The Lyonnais were able to enjoy an “off” weekend after their exploit in Turin on Friday August 7 (1-0 victory in the first leg, 2-1 defeat in the return). OL are joining the big leagues. In Lisbon, precisely, where the Rhone residents will go on Thursday. Well almost, Lyon will establish its districts in Cascais, one of the most westerly spots of the European continent, a few steps from the Estoril circuit, formerly on the calendar of the Formula 1 World Championship. 25 km from the Portuguese capital.
Until then, Memphis and his teammates will prepare for Lyon. With five training sessions between Monday and Thursday. On the program: recovery and regeneration. With City in sight. City, an ogre, yes. But the context does not seem unfavorable to Lyonnais. With a quarter-final played in a single match, on neutral ground and behind closed doors. "This cannot disadvantage the weakest on paper," we are told at OL. “City are superior to us, but Juve were also superior to us,” explains coach Rudi Garcia. We must not set a limit ”. “In a match, anything is possible. We have the right to see higher, ”adds Anthony Lopes, the goalkeeper.
Like the young Maxence Caqueret, excellent in the midfield in Turin, it is through his collective that OL pulled off the feat. Garcia hammered it with his players after qualifying. He insisted on this collective, on this notion of group. This is not insignificant in a team which used to achieve its great successes in recent years through individual exploits.
OL love Citizens
But you have to adapt to the context. Just now. Lyon's technical and playing leaders are not currently at their best. Memphis has only played in Turin for his second game since his serious knee injury (rupture of the cruciate ligaments in December 2019) and he is necessarily lacking in rhythm. Moussa Dembélé and Houssem Aouar have already been much more flamboyant and Bruno Guimarães, bluffing when he arrived in the Rhône in February, is more behind.
Moreover, Thiago Mendes could regain a starting place in No. 6 on Saturday, like Moussa Dembélé in attack. Uncertainty reigns around Maxwel Cornet, who was hit in the thigh in Italy. Fernando Marçal is in pole to replace him. In case. The tendency is to stay in 3-5-2.
OL have a lot of respect for City, but Lyon had managed to thwart the Citizens' plans twice in front of the C1 group two years ago (Lyon 2-1 success at City, then 2-2 at Groupama Stadium). City is a team that plays, that opens the game. And this is not necessarily to displease the current Lyon. Less flamboyant than before. But, for now, more solid.