Against a Breton team in dire straits and outnumbered for 85 minutes, OL struggled but finally opened their victory counter on Sunday (0-1).
It took 91 days and 11 matches for Lyon to finally secure its first victory of the season, Sunday November 12 in Rennes (0-1). The patient from Lyon remains convalescent and skated to win, against apathetic Bretons who were reduced to 10 in the fifth minute. But the manner matters little and Jake O’Brien’s saving goal (67th) offers Les Gones some respite before the international break. They still remain last, four points behind Lorient, play-offs, with a game in hand.
Seeing Corentin Tolisso and others jump for joy in front of the Lyon supporters, you would have thought you were back 20 years ago, when OL were popping champagne to celebrate their French champion titles. “I feel like it’s my first victory in L1!”, smiled the 2018 world champion, who has nevertheless seen others, on Canal +. These Lyonnais are light years ahead of their illustrious elders and, if this ultimately laborious victory is celebrated in this way, it is because it reflects the immense relief of a hitherto bruised group. “This victory will do us a lot of good, I hope it will kick off our season”agreed midfielder Maxence Caqueret.
Perhaps the tide has finally turned
This success acquired thanks to favorable elements – Guéla Doué was sent off very early and Rennes could have benefited from a penalty in stoppage time – is also a sign that the tide may have turned, for this sometimes unlucky OL this season. Lyon can at least relate to that, if not having fully reassured itself in the game. Because before showing off, the Gones were in their infancy for a long time, against Bretons who were already sick and who spent most of their time waiting that a miracle falls to them from heaven.
Destiny finally smiled on OL, on one of its rare constructed actions. In this case, a cross from Saël Kumbedi taken by the surprising Jake O’Brien, not always elegant on the pitch but very useful for scoring with a header, from the height of his 97 meter height. more aesthetic, but enough to allow Lyon to finally lead in the score this year.
The truce before the big ones
Subsequently, the Lyonnais turned back in the final minutes, when the Rennais remembered that it was advisable to play forward to score a goal. They were close to breaking, but goalkeeper Anthony Lopes stopped a shot from Amine Gouiri (90th + 2), then the referee did not consider a slight push in the air from Dejan Lovren sufficient to whistle a penalty (90th+4).
Rennes would have been very happy with a draw anyway and continues its gloomy start to the season (two victories). With 12 measly points, it is accounting closer to OL than to fifth place in Europe. “We can only shut our mouths and continue to work”railed midfielder Benjamin Bourigeaud.
“We wasn’t exceptional, but we gave everything”, for his part Tolisso euphemized. And this success seems rather logical, at the end of this very technically poor match. OL will now have to confirm, after an international break which seems to come at the wrong time to continue. “Winning before the break always feels good, we will be able to work well”, put Caqueret into perspective. And the menu will be copious for the red lantern, who will face Lille, Lens, Marseille and Monaco before Christmas.