Lyon was afraid. Not just coronavirus, whose arrival of 3000 Italian supporters in the Rhône had sparked many discussions and controversies in the pre-match. They were there. No, also afraid to take a good one. The confrontation seemed so unbalanced. Both OL have had average performances since the start of the season.
But the one who was scared at Groupama Stadium was the Old, and above all tall, Lady. A Juventus, leader of Series A, ultra-favorite of this 8th final and seriously shaken by surprising Lyonnais.
A new 3-5-2
We no longer expected them at such a level. Capable of competing, and even dominating, a European giant. Able, finally, to delight their supporters, often desperate for the services of their protégés this season.
This time, at halftime, they reserved an ovation for the Gones. Is right. Rhodaniens transformed and ahead to the score, thanks to a goal by Lucas Tousart (31st). The midfielder had already scored on the lawn of Camp Nou last season in Barcelona. He definitely likes big games. Houssem Aouar too. The young Lyonnais did a superb job on goal.
In an unprecedented 3-5-2 concocted by Rudi Garcia, still plentifully whistled by the stadium, OL was therefore amazing. In the image in particular of an excellent Bruno Guimaraes, the young Brazilian recruit of winter (22 years), find of the sporting director Juninho. In sentry in the midst, precise, so precious technically, the one we will certainly hear about again was a perfect regulator.
Worse, in an almost perfect first period, its best of the season, Lyon could have hit the nail on the head. Perhaps should have been ... In all the good shots, Karl Toko Ekambi had several frank chances, including a head on the transverse (21st). Yes, Lyon have been more dangerous against Juve than in their last home matches in Ligue 1 against Amiens (0-0) and Strasbourg (1-1).
Lyon trembled at the end of the meeting
The small 7th in the French championship, on this match, was better than the big Juve. Despite an always stirring Cristiano Ronaldo the champion of Italy was not in a great evening. The fault, too, of his opponent. A Lyon who trembled at the end of the meeting. But who held out.
Clearly, it must be said, we did not expect an OL at this level. Has a bluffing OL. He can clearly still dream of a feat and a qualification for the quarter-finals of the C1 on March 17 in Piedmont. Ten years that this club waits to find the last top 8 of the most prestigious of European competitions. It will be another pair of sleeves in Turin. It's obvious. Nothing is done. But everything is still possible. It would be huge. As unexpected as it is immense.
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Lyon - Juventus Turin
Half-time: 1-0
Spectators: 57,355
Referee: M.Manzano (Esp)
Goal. Lyon: Tousart (31st)
Warnings. Lyon: Marcelo (27th), Cornet (61st).
Lyon : Lopes - Dubois (Tete 78th), Marcelo, Denayer (cap.), Marçal, Cornet (Andersen 81st) - Guimaraes, Tousart, Aouar - Toko Ekambi (Terrier 66th), Dembélé . Entr. Garcia.
Juventus Turin : Szczesny - Danilo, De Ligt, Bonucci (cap.), Alex Sandro - Betancur, Pjanic (Ramsey 62nd), Rabiot (Bernardeschi 78th) - Juan Cuadrado (Higuain 70th), Dybala, C. Ronaldo . Entr. : Sarri.