Lyon snatch a late draw in Strasbourg
RC Strasbourg Alsace 1-1 Olympique Lyonnais
THE GAME
Peter Bosz made seven changes to the Lyon side which drew 1-1 with West Ham in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, with Houssem Aouar – one of the few midweek survivors – taking on a deeper role in the middle of center field. This did not prevent him from stealing the gloves of Matz Sels very early on, the Strasbourg goalkeeper showing good reflexes (6th). Racing But very quickly, Ludovic Ajorque sends a beautiful ball in front of the goal which only needs a toe to bring the score to 1-0 (15th). This luck was begging, but the next was converted. Dimitri Liénard did well to nip a Lyon attack in the bud with a slicked ball forward in the same motion, and while Sissoko looked unfavorite to hang on to Ajorque’s knockdown, Anthony Lopes and his defense seemed to think the other was doing business. with, and the midfielder grabbed his second goal of the season (20′). Moussa Dembélé, attempting a header, then kneed Léo Dubois’ cross on the home crossbar (28′). Lopes was injured conceding the opener, and Jan Pollersbeck replaced him shortly after (30th). The German saves Anthony Caci (43rd) and it’s 1-0 at the break.
Lyon level behind
Both teams were unchanged at the break, but Lyon must have had their Bosz’s words ringing in their ears as they started the second half much brighter. Tanguy Ndombélé finds Jason Denayer from a cross in the area but the big central defender sends a header directly into Sels (57th). On the hour mark, Strasbourg found its second wind, however, Liénard making a late breakthrough in the box and volleying a cross from Sissoko just over the bar (59th). Damien Da Silva then headed a corner from Romain Faivre next to the far post as Lyon tried to come back (68th), but Strasbourg never looked too worried. Jean-Ricner Bellegarde was unlucky to see a shot go through the top corner of Pollersbeck (71st) and Kévin Gameiro should perhaps have done better than sending a shot to Denayer shortly after (77th). Gameiro, played by Ajorque, sees a new shot stopped by Pollersberk (85th) and this debauchery is finally sanctioned. A few minutes after Lucas Paqueta shot wide (88th), Toko Ekambi repelled a cross from Dubois (90th) and it was 1-1.
THE PLAYER: Dimitri Liénard
Now 34, Strasbourg captain Liénard could perhaps be forgiven for reluctantly playing as a winger so deep in his career, but the midfielder by trade has put on an outstanding display in the side left of Julien Stéphan’s 5-3-2. , smothering danger at one end while providing a constant threat of attack at the other. No one was more unlucky not to end up on the winning side.
THE STAT: 9
Strasbourg remain unbeaten in their last nine Ligue 1 Uber Eats matches, a streak dating back to Matchday 22 when they were beaten 4-3 in a thriller at Girondins de Bordeaux. With AS Monaco, OGC Nice and now the Lyon scalps claimed this mandate, Racing – who have cemented their grip on fourth place – would more than deserve a second European campaign in four seasons.