"We must remain humble because we are only at half-time of this confrontation", said Rudi Garcia, on February 26, after the victory of "his" OL against Juventus (1-0), in 8th first leg of the Champions League. At that time, the Lyon coach probably did not imagine that the half-time in question would last ... more than five months, coronavirus requires. The reunion will finally take place this Friday (9 p.m.), in Turin, in an empty Allianz Stadium. Although, the first round had already taken place in the shadow of the pandemic. Admittedly, the Parc OL was crowded and the Italian supporters had been authorized to make the trip to the Capital of Gaul. More generally, Lyon and its inhabitants welcomed this event with a certain recklessness, even if some elected officials gritted their teeth at the idea of receiving several thousand "tifosi". The threat still seemed distant on this side of the Alps. "We are focused on the field, nothing else", explained coach Garcia before the game. And it had rather succeeded at OL.
Memphis Depay, the more gentleman of OL
Since then, the Rhone club has lost Lucas Tousart, scorer in the first leg, transferred to Berlin, as well as Martin Terrier, who left for Rennes, but found two injured players at the time, Memphis Depay and Jeff Reine-Adélaïde. Problem? While most of the European championships have resumed, like Serie A, Ligue 1 has drawn the curtain at the end of April. And this despite the posturing of President Aulas, who campaigned until the end for a recovery ...
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The future will tell if Juve is physically damaged after the conquest of their ninth crown of Italian champion in a row. Rudi Garcia points out, rightly, that she "won the title in 36 days, running in the last two" of the championship and drawing the conclusion that the Italians will probably not have any physical concerns. "The disadvantage for us is a lack of rhythm," he concludes, in a match-eve press conference.
"We don't just want to defend, we want to score"
Rudi garciaAnthony Lopes and company were however the first to resume in France, playing six friendlies (five wins, one defeat) and the final of the Coupe de la Ligue, lost against PSG (0-0 ap, 5-6 tab) . "We do not have to be ashamed of not having won this Coupe de la Ligue, we held the dragee high at PSG", had prided Rudi Garcia, promising that this final represented "a good base of work" before this return leg in Turin. It was also thought for a time that the knockout round remaining to be played would take place on neutral ground, or even outright in Lisbon, the scene of Final 8 (August 12-23). “We will have to be a little better offensively to score,” he admitted after this “closed match” against PSG. This will also be OL's ambition: "We don't just want to defend, we want to score," he promises.
And so take advantage of the defensive largesse of an Old Lady who finished her championship on freewheels: 19 goals conceded in the last ten Serie A matches, for four wins, two draws and four defeats. Which Old Lady does not dazzle anyone with her quality of play and may have to do without Paulo Dybala, still uncertain at the time of this writing. Mattia De Sciglio and Douglas Costa, they are forfeited. “Juventus have performed well since the resumption, with moments of concentration a little lower. This is where we scored goals, "analysis Leonardo Bonucci, convinced that his team has shown, during the successes against Inter and Lazio, that it is capable of playing" like a great team ". “The details make the difference. It will take 90 minutes, ”adds the Italian international, while Maurizio Sarri regrets that some may have become used to the success of Juventus in Italy. "The victory is always extraordinary, never ordinary", insists the transalpine coach, not a little proud of the coronation won in Serie A.
OL deprived of the European Cup for the first time since 1997?
Juventus is nonetheless a superior team to OL on paper, it is a fact. But in a match, anything is possible. Especially behind closed doors, and more generally in the current context. All this while knowing that in the event of a defeat in Piedmont, the Lyonnais would definitely see their dreams of playing for a European Cup take off next season. It would be a first since… 1997. If successful, they could continue to hope. The draw was not, however, lenient: in the quarter-finals, it would be necessary to compete with Manchester City or Real Madrid, before perhaps Barça or Manchester City in the semi-finals.
One thing is certain: OL believes in its star and does not arrive in Italy for tourism. “We have a great collective state of mind, and I believe we can do it,” promises Memphis Depay. I know the qualities of Juventus and their players, but I have confidence in our team. " Confidence that also resides in Turin, even if "the match is very complicated due to the characteristics of OL and the result of the first leg", as Maurizio Sarri emphasizes. "But we can do it," he said immediately. And it will be without the "lightness" that the former Naples coach called for last September, before a match against Atlético. "Tomorrow (this Friday), we can't be like that (smile) .. We have to be very clear-headed and cold." And to add: "You have to keep a cool head, be patient and calm". It is up to OL to break this peace of mind.
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