One more headache for Peter Bosz.
Olympique Lyonnais travels to Stade Félix-Bollaert this Saturday (5 p.m.) without its starting centre-forward, Moussa Dembélé, suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards - three in the last ten matches.
So, how to replace the one who has such a particular profile, so useful and who has literally carried the Lyon attack on his shoulders in recent weeks?
This is the thorny question to which the Dutch coach must answer before the shock against the Sang et Or (8th, 36 points), who constitute, despite the uneven results, an opponent of choice and (perhaps) a direct competitor to Les Gones (7th, 37 points) in the race for Europe;
and this even if the Rhone ambition displayed is to finish on the podium.
To discover
Calendar and results Ligue 1
League 1 standings
Read alsoLigue 1: Bosz does not understand the whistles against Dubois
A decisive striker in 2022...
Before discussing the potential solutions available to the 58-year-old technician, let's try to measure the extent of the problem.
In 2022, Moussa Dembélé, it's 4 achievements in 6 Ligue 1 games;
all decisive in the sense that they undoubtedly had a major impact on Lyon's results and did not come to conclude an offensive demonstration.
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Against ESTAC (0-1) or during the Derby (1-0), it was he who took responsibility for transforming the penalties obtained and thus giving victory to his team.
His thunderous entry on the hour mark against Olympique de Marseille, in a late match of the 14th day of the championship, changed the face of the match, allowing Les Gones to overthrow the Phocéens (2-1) who were nevertheless very solid defensively in this period.
Finally, last weekend, against another direct competitor, OGC Nice (2-0), the native of Pontoise again distinguished himself from the penalty spot, opening the scoring in the 8th minute and thus putting his club on the paths to success.
SEE ALSO -
The best of Moussa Dembélé at Celtic Glasgow
...and with a unique profile
To temper, we could point out that 3 of his 4 goals scored in Ligue 1 in 2022 were from a penalty kick.
But shooting against the goalkeeper eleven meters from the cages, without a defender, is not a guarantee of success;
moreover against the Aiglons, it was only on his second attempt that Moussa Dembélé scored, the first having been repelled by Walter Benitez then taken over by Lucas Paqueta…before the referee of the match did withdraw the penalty for a illicit position of the Brazilian at the time of the strike of the Frenchman.
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However, beyond the figures, the former Celtic Glasgow striker weighs in the game with his unique attributes in the Lyon workforce.
Less technical than some, slower than others - even if he is not bad in these areas either - the 25-year-old center-forward, on the other hand, knows how to play with his back to goal, fix the opposing defense, serve as a fulcrum, stand out or impose itself in the air.
He is also an interesting surface player.
So many qualities useful to Olympique Lyonnais but on which Peter Bosz will not be able to rely on this Saturday.
Read alsoVerticality, percussion ... What Ndombélé and Faivre can bring to Olympique Lyonnais
Various solutions...
So, what solutions does Peter Bosz have?
"
Bradley (Barcola), who is young, has a lot of talent, Tino (Kadewere), Paqueta, Karl (Toko Ekambi), we have several options
", revealed the Lyon technician at a press conference this Thursday, taking good care of scramble the tracks to avoid giving clues to Franck Haise and his staff.
At first glance, the Dutch should renew the system of play glimpsed against OGC Nice, that is to say in 4-2-3-1 therefore with a single point, two wingers, a playmaker, two players on recovery, and four defenders.
Read alsoMercato: Aulas opens the door to a permanent transfer from Ndombélé to OL
In this scheme, the contribution of Karl Toko-Ekambi and Romain Faivre, the only two attacking players in the squad who can be considered side players, is essential.
“
With the players - I'm talking about Karl (Toko Ekambi) and Romain (Faivre) - against Nice, it was much better.
I had changed my system because we didn't have wingers.
Karl is a winger, he came back well and gained a lot of confidence at CAN
,” he explained.
Read alsoLigue 1: For Toko Ekambi, it's "easy" to play with Faivre and Ndombele
...with an advantage for Tino Kadewere?
Thus, seeing the Cameroonian leave his left wing to be established in the axis would be a bit surprising.
Putting Lucas Paqueta back in false number nine would have the advantage of finding a place among the holders, as a playmaker, for Houssem Aouar but it is not in this position that the Brazilian, true master at playing Les Gones, expresses himself. the best.
The choice of the young and talented Bradley Barcola would be surprising, he who has only a few minutes with the professionals this season.
By elimination, Tino Kadewere, "specialist" of the position could have his chance, he who also replaced Moussa Dembélé against the Aiglons.
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In any case, regardless of the decision taken by Peter Bosz, it will have to prove effective if he wants Olympique Lyonnais to continue its good momentum - 4 wins in 5 matches in the league, the best series since the start of exercise - and if he does not want to see his position weakened as the end of February approaches and the ultimatum issued last December by Jean-Michel Aulas concerning his future.
