Europa League: OL held on and qualified for the quarter-finals after their draw against Porto (1-1) in the second leg

The Groupama Stadium wanted a magical evening to forget the monotonous season of OL in Ligue 1, the Lyon enclosure will finally have to settle for the essentials: a ticket for the quarter-finals of the Europa League in their pocket and still no defeat on the counter on the European scene this season. From the presidential stand, Jean-Michel Aulas was able to take a deep breath and carefully observed a game that Les Gones started in the best possible way.

The wonder of Pepê was not enough for Porto

Following an opening from his captain Léo Dubois, Moussa Dembélé started on the edge of offside to deceive Diogo Costa with a cross shot and open the scoring (13th, 1-0). Faced with a leading team in its championship, Peter Bosz’s men have put together the necessary ingredients to dominate the debates. But despite a header from the untenable Dembélé above the goal (21st), the Dragons fought to equalize before going to the locker room thanks to a superb goal from winger Pepê (27th, 1-1).

With former Real Madrid defender Pepe at the centre, Porto asserted their status as a Champions League side in a pool where Liverpool, Atlético de Madrid and AC Milan played a big battle. Despite this label of favorite, the winner of the Europa League 2010-2011 tripped over the carpet in Décines, in particular thanks to the talent of the double pivot composed of Maxence Caqueret and Tanguy Ndombele. Radiant in the Lyon attack, Lucas Paquetà also delivered a capital performance, like his attempt to lob (49th) or his work to serve Houssem Aouar, not sharp enough to deceive Costa (73rd).

For its part, Porto could have snatched the extension, but the recovery of Pepe (77th) and the hesitation of Vitinha (93rd) served the Dragons. United, OL are in the quarter-finals and can begin to dream of a course similar to the 2016-2017 campaign, where Les Gones reached the last four of the competition. And maybe more?