Lyon-Reims: OL's winning coaching, Ito unrecognizable... The tops and the flops

TOPS

The Reims goalkeeper put in a solid performance on the rare occasions he was called upon in this meeting. Yehvann Diouf only finished this match with 2 saves, also due to Lyon's 3 shots on target, but his impact would have been much more notable. Even if his defense did a very good job of repelling Les Gones' offensives in the first half, it was clearly he who kept his team afloat at the end of the match. It is especially during his aerial outings that the French goalkeeper has been impressive. He always managed to anticipate despite the Lyon traps to hinder him. He managed to catch several valuable balls in order to reassure his entire team, especially at the end of the match.

Long annihilated by the Reims defense, Lyon's offensive energy was finally released from the second half. Even if Rayan Cherki's exit at halftime seemed more bizarre than anything else, Pierre Sage made the right choice by bringing on Ernest Nuamah. The Ghanaian has brought more depth to his game where he has less need to have leather in his feet like the French hopeful. His races made it possible to stretch the Reims block, which had difficulty closing the gaps behind, and which often found itself one time behind. Saïd Benrahma, who came on for Alexandre Lacazette, also contributed well. In a different register, the 28-year-old Algerian distributed and struck well while also bringing speed. It is he who sends a perfect cross towards Nuamah who only has to finish the goal of the equalizer.

FLOPS

The French striker did not have his best evening against the Rémois. Very early in this meeting, Alexandre Lacazette lost duels in the penalty area where he seemed to think too much. Faced with surly defenders who did not hesitate to come and push him in the duel, the captain of the Gones seemed to lose confidence quickly in this part. Then, his strikes lacked conviction. Often found in small spaces, he did not seem able to eliminate his opponents to put himself in a comfortable situation. He never managed to really make an impact in this meeting. His two strikes in the match were blocked or repelled by the opposing defense and he won too few duels (3/8 won). He also lost a significant number of balls (15).

The Japanese also had a lot of trouble influencing this part. Positioned in his usual right lane, Junya Ito spent too much of this meeting stuck to his line. Instead of coming to pick up the ball in order to claim the ball at his feet, the 31-year-old winger persisted and only waited for the ball in the depths. Except that with the low block of Rémois and the ball exits mainly oriented towards the axis of the field, he often found himself with nothing to eat. When he was finally found, he lacked precision in his dribbling (0/3) or in his crosses (3/9). He also lost a significant number of balls (20), notably due to the fact that he almost did not win his physical or running duels (1/8).