300 km south of their Groupama Stadium, where OL were deprived last Sunday of being able to play their Olympico for an unfortunate bottle throw, the Lyonnais returned to the Ligue 1 lawns on Sunday for 90 uninterrupted minutes.
Landed in Montpellier with the incidents of OL-OM in the back of his mind, but freed from all European pressure after his new success in the Europa League on Thursday in Brondby (1-3), Olympique Lyonnais offered a little more lightness in a timid period in Ligue 1.
What you must remember
Beaten twice in their last three league games, the Rhone residents resumed their forward march winning on the field of Hérault (0-1). Sparkling since the start of the season, Lucas Paqueta once again donned the X factor costume for his team, and scored with a header his 6th goal of the season (17th). With also two assists since the start of the championship, the indispensable Brazilian is now involved in 10 goals in 19 games between the L1 and the Europa League (6 goals, 4 assists).
All was not perfect for OL, dominating in the game but who retreated a lot in the second act in particular. Anthony Lopes was saved by his bar on Florent Mollet's flat foot from inside the area (9th). The goalkeeper made a huge save on the uncontrolled attempt of the same Mollet (57th), while Malo Gusto was forced to make a decisive return to prevent Stephy Mavididi from returning to the box (43rd).
But deprived of its best player Téji Savanier, suspended after his expulsion in Rennes last Saturday (2-0), Montpellier (11th) pushed hard without ever finding the fault, and conceded his second defeat in a row, his third in five days .
For Lyon, on the other hand, his 6th precious success of the season allows him to make a nice leap forward, seventh at four lengths from the third step of the podium occupied by OGC Nice.
The #teamOL finds success away in @ Ligue1UberEats thanks to a goal from @ LucasPaqueta97!
It feels good 🦾🔴🔵 #MHSCOL 0-1 pic.twitter.com/r68ZMJykqv
- Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) November 28, 2021
The player: Paqueta, performing regardless of the position
Unlike his last two outings in the Championship, Peter Bosz had bet ahead on the post specialist Islam Slimani.
Shifting Lucas Paqueta on the right side of this 4-2-3-1, from which the Brazilian was able to easily dive towards the axis and enjoy more freedom in the game, especially in the first period.
The international Auriverde has been in all the right places, and it is no coincidence that the Lyon game has leaned considerably in its favor.
If he thought he saw his already victorious cross shot without a Jonas Omlin who relaxed all the way (15th), Paqueta was well placed in the box to head back a volley from Slimani pushed back by the bar ( 17th).
Whether used in 10, false 9 or on one side, the Brazilian is showing this season that he is inexorably drawn to goal.
The number: 30
Straddling two seasons, Lyon have now scored in 30 of their last 31 Ligue 1 games - the recent OL-OM put aside - totaling 63 goals over this period.
The Lyonnais did not remain silent in the Championship against Angers on August 15 (0-3).
