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Reverse dynamics, opposing numbers ... OL-ASSE, the derby of contrasts

2020-11-07T23:05:42.091Z


This Sunday (9 p.m.), Olympique Lyonnais receives AS Saint-Etienne at the end of the 10th day of Ligue 1 in what is akin to a derby of contrasts.


Everything opposes them.

OL-ASSE is considered as a derby that extends beyond the world of football, as a modern transposition of the class struggle between Lyon “the bourgeois” and Saint-Etienne “the worker”;

an analysis "overrated" but tinged with "a part of truth and social romanticism" in the words of Pascal Charroin, lecturer at Jean-Monnet University of Saint-Etienne, in an interview with Le

Progrès

.

At the end of 2020, the opposition between the two clubs seems even more marked as the balance of power seems to be turning to the advantage of Olympique Lyonnais, at least on paper.

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Reverse dynamics

The two formations are on opposite dynamics.

AS Saint-Etienne started its season very well, with three victories in three games, including a significant one against Olympique de Marseille, at the Stade Vélodrome (0-2).

But since his draw against Nantes (2-2), Claude Puel's men have sunk, suffering five consecutive defeats against Rennes (0-3), Lens (2-0), Nice (1-3), Metz ( 2-0) and Montpellier (0-1).

The Greens are in great difficulty, both defensively (2.2 goals conceded per game in their last five meetings) and offensive (only one goal scored in their last five meetings).

For its part, Olympique Lyonnais struggled to enter the 2020-2021 financial year of Ligue 1 after its good run in the Champions League.

Les Gones only collected six points during the first five days with a rather favorable schedule (receptions from Dijon, Nîmes; trips to Bordeaux, Montpellier and Lorient).

On the other hand, Rudi Garcia's players have earned eight points over their last four games, an average of two points per game, notably against Olympique de Marseille (1-1), AS Monaco (4-1) and LOSC (1-1).

OL, which is in 6th place in the standings with 14 points, is therefore on a positive dynamic.

ASSE is 13th with 10 points and looks more behind than in front.

When Robert Beric offered victory to Saint-Etienne in the derby

Totally opposed staff

Their numbers are also completely different.

With Houssem Aouar and Memphis Depay, Olympique Lyonnais has two "stars" of Ligue 1. Les Gones also have in their ranks sure values ​​of the championship in almost all positions, like among others Anthony Lopes, Jason Denayer, Marcelo, Léo Dubois, Maxwell Cornet, Thiago Mendes, Karl Toko-Ekambi or even Moussa Dembélé.

Some of them are not always consistent, others are going through a bad patch, but they have all demonstrated their qualities at some point, whether in Lyon or elsewhere.

Rudi Garcia also has a nucleus of very talented young players who have distinguished themselves on the French lawns or on the European scene (Bruno Guimaraes, Maxence Caqueret, Ryan Cherki etc.).

Currently rather substitutes, they offer him a very interesting bench depth.

Moreover, the recent recruits - Djamel Benlamri, Mattia De Sciglio, Lucas Paqueta, Tino Kadewere - have really strengthened the Lyon group.

OL have in short a very balanced squad, ready to play the leading roles in Ligue 1.

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- Youth riding in Saint-Etienne, with or without Wesley Fofana

Conversely, Saint-Etienne has a much more limited team.

Claude Puel has to deal with a young workforce, inexperienced and lacking some of his best talents.

It is true that the Stéphane coach also made the choice to do without Stéphane Ruffier and Ryad Boudebouz, major players of the club in terms of experience, and that he has a time set aside Wahbi Khazri, before to reinstate him (first tenure against Montpellier, on November 1).

But Loïc Perrin, William Saliba, Yann M'Vila, Yohan Cabaye, important elements and personalities, are no longer part of the workforce since this summer.

The Greens were also forced to part ways with Leicester City's Wesley Fofana, who was considered the club's greatest talent.

So the technician of the Greens is now forced to rely on young players.

Saïdou Sow (18) has been aligned in central defense for several matches.

Harold Moukoudi and Panagiotis Retsos, both 22, have also been established there.

Aimen Mouffek (19) and Alpha Sissoko (23) have playing time on the right side of the Stéphane defense.

In midfield, Yvan Neyou (23), Mahdi Camara (22) and Zaydou Youssouf (21) share minutes.

All these players have qualities - they have shown it - but do not have a lot of experience at a very high level.

In front, Denis Bouanga, Romain Hamouma, Kévin Monnet-Paquet are the only offensive assets from Saint-Etienne with experience.

The offensive animation is often entrusted to Adil Aouchiche (18 years old), transfused from Paris Saint-Germain, certainly talented (2 goals, 1 assist this season), but without much knowledge of the professional world (3 professional matches last season) .

The Greens also have no real center-forward (Romain Hamouma plays there) and occasionally rely on Bilal Benkhedim (19) and Maxence Rivera (18) to bring danger to the sides.

Who are we?

An unbalanced balance of power but ...

In view of these imbalances, Olympique Lyonnais advance as a big favorite of the meeting.

But the truth of the paper is not all the time that of the field, even more in a derby.

The Greens have nothing to lose (if not a sixth game in a row), a defeat on their part would be "logical" while a victory would allow them to completely restart their season.

Are they capable of remobilizing themselves, of transcending themselves in order to thwart the prognoses and overthrow the established order?

Answer this Sunday, at 9 p.m.

Read also

  • The Ligue 1 ranking

  • The schedule for the 10th day of Ligue 1

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2020-11-07

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