Bellegarde and the Strasbourg residents were full. AFP / PATRICK HERTZOG / Frederic Chambert / Panoramic / Frédéric Chambert
Lyon lost to Strasbourg at the end of the first day of Ligue 1 (2-1). Find the Tops and Flops of this meeting.
TOPS
Bellegarde, executioner of OL
He completely capsized the Meinau in the second half. The only Racing midfielder to float before the break, Jean-Ricner Bellegarde changed the course of the meeting, opening the scoring with an off-center free kick (63rd). Scorer, then decisive passer, on a caviar offered to Mothiba after a big rush on the right wing (75th). Applauded by his supporters when he left the pitch at the end of the match, the former Lensois could hardly have started his season better.
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Sels, the other strong man of Racing
If Bellegarde led Racing to victory, Matz Sels kept it alive in the first period. The Belgian goalkeeper chained the interventions at the height of the Lyon domination, in particular by deflecting a shot from Lacazette on his post (41st). Irreproachable also in front of Cherki at the end of the match (86th). Its responsibility is not engaged on the goal of Tagliafico.
Caqueret very present
On the Lyon side, the good match of Maxence Caqueret is to be highlighted. Decked out in an imposing bandage around his skull after a shock with Nyamsi (36th), the 23-year-old player was especially visible by his activity in the midfield, especially in the first period. Inspired in his transmissions and effective in his pressing, he gave himself a fine decisive pass on Tagliafico’s goal late in the game. A performance in the continuity of his good end to last season.
FLOPS
Mata already injured, Kumbedi overwhelmed
With Caleta-Car, he was the other OL rookie to start the game. But Clinton Mata’s baptism of fire in Ligue 1 was cut short. Sober and applied for twenty minutes, the new right side of Les Gones had to give up his place very prematurely, due to a muscle injury contracted in the thigh. A big blow for the Rhone club, as his replacement was not up to it. Launched cold, Saël Kumbedi suffered terribly against Delaine at the start of the second period. His fault at the origin of the victorious free kick of Bellegarde cost the Gones dearly. Never reassuring during the last half hour.
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Emegha’s lack of lucidity
Bought twelve million euros during this transfer window at Sturm Graz, Emanuel Emegha started this Sunday in the Strasbourg attack. A mixed first. The young Dutchman clearly weighed on the Lyon defense, but above all he showed off an excess of individualism in the first period, forgetting to serve Mothiba twice (5th, 24th). Racing, ultimately victorious, could have regretted this lack of lucidity to be quickly corrected.