Football. Ligue 1: Lyon stumbles against Angers and lets the podium slip away

Lyon is letting points slip away again. OL failed to win on Angers’ turf this Sunday (0-0) and recorded their ninth match without a victory in all competitions. With a win, Lyon could have climbed onto the podium while waiting for the clash between Monaco and Marseille later in the evening.

Lyon remains stuck in 5th place with 48 points, under threat from Monaco. As for SCO (12th place), this 33rd point of the season is always good to take in their quest for maintenance, even if it’s not mathematically guaranteed yet.

Tolisso and Sulc unmoved

If the break was not necessarily restful for its internationals, OL hoped to regain momentum and put an end to their series of five matches without a win, including three defeats in Ligue 1, along with the elimination against Celta Vigo in the Europa League.

Lacking inspiration and sharpness, the spark never came against Angevins who were well organized and disciplined but lacked ambition in their play. Facing an opponent they had beaten eleven times in the last twelve confrontations, Lyon had to do much better.

Only Afonso Moreira, on the left side, brought movement and life, in contrast to an Endrick completely silenced by Jacques Ekomi and company, before being replaced in the 73rd minute. The physical state of Paulo Fonseca’s players was also shown by the substitutions of Peter Sulc in the 55th minute, after being checked by the doctor on the field, and Corentin Tolisso (64th). The Lyon captain had started limping and touching his left thigh after a shot in the 48th minute, easily diverted by Koffi but which was the first semblance of an opportunity in this match.

Uncertain end of the match

The substitutions from both sides somewhat livened up the end of the game, with Angers trying their luck more after Prosper Peter came in (68th), but mainly providing space to the visitors, to whom they also too often returned the ball too quickly.

Roman Yaremchuk, Sulc’s replacement, brought weight upfront, Rachid Ghezzal, who had replaced Tolisso, brought verticality in passes, and Khalis Merah brought movement, but Lyon still struggled to create better than a few confusing situations in front of the opponent’s goal.

It is safe to say that the final stretch will be difficult for OL, who still have to play at the Parc des Princes and host Rennes and Lens in the last six matchdays.