Dominated in the second period, Olympique Lyonnais held the draw against FC Porto (1-1) in the round of 16 second leg of the Europa League. Thanks to the success in the first leg (0-1), the Rhone club qualified for the quarter-finals!
Moussa Dembélé fought hard to score OL’s only goal.
Given the status of his opponent, we can speak of an achievement for Olympique Lyonnais! The Ligue 1 resident got the draw against FC Porto (1-1).
A result which, after the victory in Portugal in the first leg (0-1), is enough to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Dubois very prominent
But it took a lot of work to get this ticket. Eaten in intensity by Stade Rennais (4-2 defeat) on Sunday, OL did not repeat the same error. Les Gones started the game with the right state of mind and the technical accuracy necessary to gradually approach the opposing goal.
And it was on a magnificent opening from Dubois that Dembélé (1-0, 13th) opened the scoring! A deserved advantage for the Gones who could have taken shelter if Dembélé had managed to frame his head, after a new cross from Dubois. So far, the Portuguese had not been threatening. But the visitors reacted, in particular thanks to a few loss of ball from Lyon. And on their first real chance, winger Pepê (1-1, 27′) equalized with a superb volley in the top corner!
The Lyonnais suffered!
The equalizer was not stolen for the Dragons who ended this first act better. And who were going to pack the rest of the game. The match almost looked like an attack-defense as Porto took over. Still, Sergio Conceição’s men did not put Lopes in danger. It was even the Lyonnais Dembélé and Aouar who sought goalkeeper Costa.
You still have to recognize that Groupama Stadium, faced with pressure from the Portuguese, had two big scares. The first on the recovery of central defender Pepe who brushed the post! Then the other when Vitinha, inexplicably, missed his control alone in front of Lopes! OL will not complain and thus validate their qualification in pain!
The score of the match: 7/10
In terms of intensity and suspense, the two teams gave us a real European cup match. Chances and above all a magnificent goal enlivened the first period, before a second act under high tension but calmer for the goalkeepers.
The goals :
– Surrounded by three opponents, the right side Dubois manages to move towards the axis and launch Dembélé in depth with a magnificent outside of the foot! In the duel with Mbemba, the OL striker hits with a tackle and crosses his ball enough to deceive goalkeeper Costa (1-0, 13′).
– On a counter phase, winger Pepê shifts Vieira to the right side. The Portuguese midfielder crosses slightly back to find Pepê, whose superb cross recovery leaves Lopes no chance! (1-1, 27th)
Players’ NOTES
Maxifoot assigned a commented note (out of 10) to each player.
Man of the match: Thiago Mendes (8/10)
Sometimes in great difficulty in this position of central defender, the training environment made an excellent copy in hinge! The Brazilian contained striker Martinez well and intercepted many dangerous crosses thanks to his placement. Under Portuguese pressure, he showed an amazing serenity.
LYONS :
Anthony Lopes (5): despite the pressure from Porto in the second period, the OL goalkeeper was hardly called upon. He is very happy to see Pepe’s recovery pass right by, or to witness quite miraculously Vitinha’s failed control right in front of him. Of course, no one will blame him for Pepê’s missile in his skylight.
Léo Dubois (7): a few hours after his absence from Didier Deschamps’ list, the captain of Les Gones was undoubtedly affected. In any case, it was absolutely not seen! On the contrary, he surely delivered one of his best performances of the season. In addition to his magnificent assist for Dembélé, he managed good crosses and controlled Galeno well in the first half. One of his interventions was even acclaimed by an audience that tended to whistle him lately.
Thiago Mendes (8): see comments above.
Castello Lukeba (4): long complimented this season, the young central defender is going through a more complicated period. He certainly made good interventions in front of Martinez. But his ball losses sometimes put the Lyonnais in danger.
Emerson (4): quiet and discreet before half-time, the left side had a more complicated second period. The accuracy of the Portuguese entrants exposed him more. He only made one real sharp climb…interrupted by the referee who didn’t give up the advantage.
Karl Toko Ekambi (6.5): while he could have obtained a penalty, or at least an excellent free kick at the start of the match, the Cameroonian was not frustrated. His desire to hit and accelerate the game brought intensity to the Lyon attacks in the first period. With more space after the break, he had some very interesting situations. But for lack of solution or clumsiness, he ended his actions badly.
Tanguy Ndombélé (7): under pressure from the Portuguese, the midfielder on loan from Tottenham responded well. His impact on recovery allowed OL not to completely sink. He also made some good forward passes which he has the secret to, not to mention his successful roulette at the end of the game.
Maxence Caqueret (5): like his deep pass for Dubois, the Bleuet had a very good first period, full of authority in the duels. But he struggled to keep pace when Porto accelerated in the second act, hence the fouls committed.
Romain Faivre (4): interesting in the first period, the former Brestois made his technical quality and his complicity with Dubois speak. He still loses a dangerous ball near his surface. Before disappearing after the break. Replaced at the 65th by Houssem Aouar (not rated), angry with Paqueta who deprived him of a great opportunity at the very end of the game. He had previously attempted a cross shot, released by goalkeeper Costa.
Lucas Paqueta (6.5): full of determination, the Brazilian has long lacked success in his initiatives. His strikes and crosses often found an opposing leg. But he gradually regained efficiency in the second period, like his through pass for Dembélé. Note also some nice technical moves at the end of the game, even if he misses a big chance at the last second.
Moussa Dembélé (5.5): little found by his teammates overall, the French striker still benefited from three goal balls. One ended up in the back of the net, the second, a header, was off target, and his duel against Costa was won by the goalkeeper. Replaced at the 65th by Tino Kadewere (unrated)only author of a shot blocked for a corner.
FC PORTO :
Diogo Costa (6): beaten by Dembélé in their first duel, the Portuguese goalkeeper made up for it well in the second period. He neutralizes the attacker ideally launched by Paqueta and relaxes well on Aouar’s attempt.
Bruno Costa (4): far from being calm in the face of the percussion of Toko Ekambi, the right side can thank his teammate Grujic for the support. Victim of a muscle injury and replaced in the 56th by João Mario (not rated), much sharper in his climbs but less present defensively. The proof with the small bridge inflicted by Paqueta.
Pepe (6): as Dembélé’s opportunity in the second period proves, the former Real Madrid executive no longer has the legs to cover the depth. But he remains capable of intercepting hot balls like the opening that could have allowed Paqueta to go alone on goal. He does not go far from a nice goal but his recovery misses just by.
Chancel Mbemba (3.5): it makes you wonder how a central defender of his size can suffer so much duels. His coach Sergio Conceição will no doubt show him Dembélé’s goal, which he gently accompanies until his strike… And this is not the only action where the center forward has dominated him.
Zaidu Sanusi (3): in the Lyon camp, his qualities as a counter-attacker did damage. But defensively, the left side got it all wrong. He initially suffered from Faivre’s technique. But above all, his placement puts Dembélé into play on the action of the goal. Sergio Conceição did not like it at all!
Marko Grujic (7): technically comfortable, the great midfielder also used his large volume of play in recovery. He almost looked like a 5th defender as he helped his rear guard. He can still consider himself lucky not to have conceded a penalty on Toko Ekambi in the first period. Replaced at the 79th by Vitinha (not rated)who misses his control in front of Lopes at the very end of the match!
Stephen Eustáquio (4): for his very dangerous tackle on Faivre, the midfielder might have deserved more than just a yellow card in the 18th minute. He finally stays on the field and misses his recovery on a good cross at the far post. Replaced at the 57th by Mateus Uribe (not rated)whose good choices and vertical play increased the pressure put up by Porto in the last half hour.
Pepê (7): what a volley! Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful goals of the C3 this season. And the Brazilian winger was not satisfied with this perfect gesture. His technical finesse and his vivacity posed a problem for the Lyon defense, especially when he left on his right side to transplant towards the axis.
Fabio Vieira (7.5): decisive passer for Pepê, the Portuguese midfielder was elusive! His teammates managed to find him easily between the lines. Many of Porto’s actions therefore passed through his feet. Fortunately for OL, he sometimes lacked precision on certain transmissions.
Galeno (5.5): long neutralized by Dubois and Caqueret, the left winger had a difficult first period. But he regained all his percussion on returning from the locker room, thus calming the offensive inclinations of the French international. Replaced at the 74th by Evanilson (unrated).
Toni Martínez (3): well taken by the central hinge of OL, the center-forward of Porto had a lot of trouble existing. Even when he managed to escape his bodyguards, it was Dubois who intervened in extremis to prevent him from striking. Replaced at the 75th by Mehdi Taremi (not rated).
+ Find the results and the classification of the Europa League on Maxifoot
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LYON 1-1 FC PORTO (mid-time: 1-1) – EUROPA LEAGUE – 1/8 finals
Stadium: Groupama Stadium, Lyon – Referee: Ovidiu Hategan, Romania
Goals : Mr. Dembélé (13th) for LYON – Pepê (27th) for FC PORTO
Warnings :
LYONS :
FC PORTO :
Dembélé confirmed the domination of OL (1-0, 13th)
The superb cover of Pepê! (1-1, 27th)
Caqueret struggled more in the second half
Decisive passer, Dubois responded to criticism
