The Nova do Almada street suddenly lights up with a powerful bright red glow. That of a smoke ignited by Lyon supporters a few minutes after OL's success over Manchester City (3-1). A few kilometers from the José-Alvalade stadium where the Gones have just signed their resounding feat against the Citizens, the Spot bar explodes with joy. Onlookers walking through the Bairro Alto district look with astonishment at the fifty Lyon supporters who made the trip to the Portuguese capital.
An express trip that they do not regret for a single second. “We are used to following the team everywhere in Europe, it is not a closed door that was going to stop us, shouts Nico in the middle of the four friends with whom he made the trip. What is happening is incredible. We have been waiting for this moment since 2010. No one imagined that we could beat Manchester City. But This team has shown they have talent and heart. And I don't see them stopping here ”.
In Lisbon, the Lyon supporters set fire to the stadium far away pic.twitter.com/bEF1zu6WnE
- Le Parisien - Sports (@LeParisienSport) August 15, 2020A few hours earlier, optimism was less fierce when the Lyon colony invaded the Lisbon café whose owner lived for more than eight years between the Rhône and the Saône. It is the rallying point for Lyon supporters.
Eric Di Meco sitting at the back of the bar
Already very hot, the atmosphere suddenly rises at the opening of the score of Maxwel Cornet. The fourth goal of his career against Manchester City. "There was only him who could do that", laughs Theo, a young student in economics. The equalizer of Kevin De Bruyne (1-1, 69th) tenses the faces a little. City pushes and eyes turn to Eric Di Meco, convinced that the former Marseillais can have talents of oracle.
The RMC consultant, seated at the back of the bar, is no more reassured than the others about OL's European future until the referee validates Dembélé's goal after consulting the VAR (2- 1, 79e). "Who does not jump is not Lyonnais", shouts the assistance which falls into a mad euphoria when Dembelé extinguishes any hope of an English return (3-1, 87th).
They will be there on Wednesday for the half against Bayern
Beer flies in the air, smoke comes out of pockets. It is finally in the middle of the street that the Lyon supporters embark on a crazy saraband. “We always believed in it a little deep inside us but it's still crazy what the players did, screams Stéphane, who came from Lyon with a friend. It is revenge against those who criticized us. Now, I don't see why we would set a limit. Bayern are very strong but in a match, we can annoy them. I dream of a final against PSG. It would be a snub to all of Europe ”.
While waiting for this remake of the Coupe de la Ligue final, the faithful Lyonnais spun off to celebrate the victory in the seaside resort of Cascais, at the foot of the OL hotel. By promising to return on Wednesday in the heart of Lisbon, for the semi-final against Bayern Munich. Where, 1700 km from the capital of Gaul, the hearts of Lyon were very beating.
