The Cherki spark, the indispensable Lacazette, the failing mentality of Monaco… The Tops-Flops of OL-Monaco

Abused from the start by AS Monaco (goal conceded in the 1st minute), OL finally reversed the situation once again, to win 3-1, at Groupama Stadium, this Friday evening, at the start of the 36th Ligue 1 day.

Les Tops d’OL-Monaco

Cherki spark

Prototype of the talented young player, Rayan Cherki can make his coach sigh (to put it mildly) with his inconstancy, and his teammates because of his bad choices. Because, too, of his ability to carry the ball too much, as well as to generally prefer the individual solution to the collective one. Tonight, the 19-year-old attacking midfielder notably lost a lot of ball (22, the highest total for his team), and rarely dribbling (5 attempted, 1 successful). But, because there is a very big “but”, Rayan Cherki does spark some sparks from time to time. This evening, the Frenchman provoked several: on OL’s 2nd goal (57th), Rayan Cherki, author of 3 key passes (leading to a shot on goal), attempted and succeeded in a brilliant roulette in front of a central Monegasque to open the way to the goal, before measuring his strike badly, repelled by the goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, then to see Maxence Caqueret resume well. And in the 78th, the Lyonnais provoked his direct opponent with body feints, before rolling up a shot from the left which will hit the post and give victory to OL (3-1). A great evening for Rayan Cherki, a sensation unfortunately far too rare.

When you score to celebrate your 100th in ????????????#OLASM pic.twitter.com/FnwZXfwDg1

— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) May 19, 2023

L’indispensable Lacazette

Where would OL be in the Ligue 1 standings without Alexandre Lacazette? Returning home last summer, the General, armband on his arm this evening, is a permanent example for his teammates through his efforts and the quality of his matches, and a centerpiece of Laurent Blanc’s training game. In addition to the goals that the former Gunner puts on like pearls (his 26th tonight), the striker honored number 10 behind his back, by multiplying the stalls to steer his team’s offensives with skill, often better than Rayan Cherki, whose position it is. Author of a decisive pass (78th) in addition to his goal (in the 38th, after a good job by Bradley Barcola on the right side), Alexandre Lacazette will perhaps help bring OL back to Europe. The Rhone club has indeed 59 points, and LOSC (5th), which faces OM (3rd) this Saturday evening, currently only has one more. Laurent Blanc no longer believed in it at the start of the week, but Alexandre Lacazette and his teammates will perhaps make him reconsider his words.

Lyon’s reaction

Led 0-1 from the 1st minute of play, Olympique Lyonnais could have had a nightmarish evening, and collapsed against AS Monaco, well on their legs during the first 30 minutes of the match. But thanks to strong individuals (Alexandre Lacazette, Rayan Cherki, Maxence Caqueret), to an offensive and adventurous game, offering a rate of 2.07 expected goals (xG), OL managed to turn the trend, heavily against them after a goal from the start (1st). After the comeback against Montpellier (5-4) not long ago, Lyon has again reversed a badly embarked situation.

???????? VICTOIRE ! ????

Our players win with style against Monaco and are still in the race for 5th place ????#OLASM 3-1 pic.twitter.com/wiobzgStDH

— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) May 19, 2023

Les Flops d’OL-Monaco

Monaco, a failing mind

Very little inspired for a month, AS Monaco once again lost an L1 match against a somewhat tough opponent, but which the Rock club, despite being 4th in the championship, should theoretically dominate. Rolled by Lens (0-3) then Montpellier (0-4) at the end of April, Philippe Clement’s men offered another uninspired performance, especially in defense, with three goals conceded. Dominated in possession (62% against 38%), in shots (23-15) and shots on target (11-9), AS Monaco, despite a good Aleksandr Golovin in the first period, rarely knew how to put in danger OL other than thanks to a gross error from the opposition, leading to the penalty (1st), and despite, however, an obvious structural advantage in attack: the Monegasque pistons were almost always alone. But mentally, the players of the Principality club are not there: with Troyes, ASM is the team that has lost the most points after leading in the score. While Lille can come back to 2 points in the event of a victory against OM on Saturday evening, the Belgian Philippe Clement can worry about his position at the end of the season, it seems to us.

1:10 – Wissam Ben Yedder scored after 1 minutes and 10 seconds the fastest penalty in Ligue 1 since Opta analyzed this data (2006/07), succeeding Jimmy Briand (scorer with Rennes against Sochaux after 1 minute and 18 seconds on November 2, 2008). Press. #OLASM pic.twitter.com/ST1XtDjtSl

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) May 19, 2023

The start of the disaster for OL

Could OL, and Sinaly Diomandé with him, have a worse start to the match against AS Monaco this Friday evening? A few seconds after the engagement, the 22-year-old central defender, established alongside Castello Lukeba in the absence of Dejan Lovren, missed the ball, throwing the formidable Wissam Ben Yedder into the depths, finally mowed down in the penalty area by a late Anthony Lopes. 13th second of play, and Lyon is already in huge trouble. The French international did not shake (1-0, 1st), but neither did OL, who reacted. Three goals later, OL must have said to themselves that they could have seriously bitten their fingers.