Lyon : Dembele (8e, sp), Toko Ekambi (52e)
OL were more than convinced tonight. Les Gones contained the Niçois and dominated them from start to finish for a clear and flawless victory. The Aiglons have only shot once and have never existed against the volume of the Lyonnais.
A first Lyon period
Les Gones started the game with their feet on the floor. From the 4th minute, they inherited a penalty for a hand in the box from an unlucky Justin Kluivert. Dembele missed his conversion but Paqueta followed up well. The VAR returned and gave the penalty to withdraw since the Brazilian had entered the box before the strike and Benitez did not have his foot stuck to the line. Dembele came forward again and didn’t shake twice, choosing the same side but with more power and precision.
The Lyonnais did not stop however. For the first 45 minutes, they dominated the game head and shoulders, with no shots conceded. Caqueret and Ndombele ruled the middle and the pressing of their partners took the Aiglons by the throat. The waves were raining on the Nice defense but Benitez then Gouiri on his line kept the raft afloat. But by not doubling the bet, they put themselves in danger and could have conceded a penalty. On a cross from Kluivert, Thuram was jostled in the air by Faivre. The VAR reviewed the action but decided not to award a penalty, even though the Niçois could not play the action because of the contact. The game resumed and the locals therefore returned to the locker room with a goal in advance.
A one-sided game
After the break, the dynamic hadn’t changed. The people of Nice were still as timid and did not leave their camp. The Lyonnais took advantage of this to double the lead through Toko Ekambi. On a deflected strike from Faivre, Dembele inherited the ball to the left of the box. After raising his head, he served the Cameroonian perfectly at the far post, who pushed the ball into the empty net.
A few minutes later, it was Dembele who stood out again. Launched at the limit of offside, he advanced in front of Benitez and hooked him. The Nice goalkeeper grabbed his legs and Mr. Millot once again showed the penalty spot. It was without counting on the assistant referee, who had raised his flag for an offside to the millimeter.
The chances continued to rain down for OL. Paqueta claimed a penalty after a small bridge over Rosario, while Kadewere missed a one-on-one. Meanwhile, the Niçois attempted their first strike of the match, by Guessand with a header. A strike without danger for Lopes but which only intervened in the 76th minute. The end of the match was calmer, with the Lyonnais calmly managing their lead.
With this victory, the Gones temporarily move to 6th, before the Sunday matches. They pick up 5 points from their opponent of the day, who is losing ground to OM. If the Marseillais won tomorrow in Metz, they would relegate the Niçois to 4 points, a game in advance.
