In a match filled with deep boredom, OL had to settle for a scoreless draw against Angers this Sunday (0-0).
The Gones are moving slowly. Dominant but rarely dangerous, Lyon could only manage a draw (0-0) against Angers on Sunday during the 28th matchday of Ligue 1, a result that does not help their prospects in the race for Europe.
While they could have temporarily climbed to the podium with a victory, Lyon remains stuck in 5th place with 48 points, under threat from Monaco (46 points) who play Marseille in the evening. On the other hand, for SCO (12th), the 33rd point of the season is always welcome as they aim for near-certain maintenance, even if it is not yet mathematically secured.
The international break may not have been restful for their players, but OL hoped to regain momentum and end their streak of five winless matches, including three losses in Ligue 1, along with elimination against Celta Vigo in the Europa League.
Matches at 3:00 pm on Sundays rarely bring a frantic pace, but that is certainly not the only explanation for this particularly laborious performance from a team aiming for Champions League qualification.
Lacking inspiration and sharpness, the spark never came against the well-organized and disciplined but unambitious Angevins. Against an opponent they had beaten eleven times in the last twelve encounters, Lyon needed to do much better.
Injuries to Tolisso and Sulc:
Only Afonso Moreira on the left brought movement and life, in contrast to an entirely subdued Endrick by Jacques Ekomi and company. The physical state of Paulo Fonseca’s players was evident in the exits of Pavel Sulc in the 55th minute, after being checked by the doctor on the field, and Corentin Tolisso in the 64th minute.
The Lyon captain had begun to limp and clutch his left thigh after a shot in the 48th minute, easily diverted by Koffi but the first semblance of an opportunity in the match. The substitutions on both sides slightly livened up the end of the game, with Angers taking more chances after the entry of Prosper Peter (68th), but also offering space to the visitors, to whom they also quickly returned the ball too often.
Roman Yaremchuk, Sulc’s replacement, added weight up front, Rachid Ghezzal, who had replaced Tolisso, brought vertical passing, and Khalis Merah brought movement, but Lyon still struggled to create better than a few confusing situations in front of the opposing goal. It’s safe to say that the home stretch will be difficult for OL, who still have to visit Parc des Princes and host Rennes and Lens in the last six matchdays.
