Olympic Lyon Matchday Reports

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EFL 2 Matchday 1

Benfica 3 v 1 Lyon

A tough fixture to start the new campaign in EFL 1 with Benfica one of the favorites to at least finish in the top 3 of this division. Lyon have made a few changes to there squad during pre season starting with the academy promotion of striker Baros and defender Camara who will be getting max playing time during the season. Seasoned forward Lacazette was moved on in pre season with the strikeforce of Jeffinho, Traore and Baros bringing the average age down of the forward line. Defender Doekhi was brought in on a swap deal to add more experience to the back line along with squaddie Dambrosio, but the midfield stayed the same as last season.
The contest surprisingly started with an early goal from Lyon through Traore's header helped by Benifca's keeper dick fumbling allowing to creep over the goal line. It could have been two goals up were it not VAR deciding the ball rebounding off the bar and crossing the line but not fully. But as expected half hour in when the home side equalised after a period of pressure to draw level. It was quite a competitive second half but it was down to taking your chances when the opportunity arrived and Lyon sadly didn't.
So, in saying that Benfica took over with two goals late in the half to put this match to bed, but the stats were pretty much equal it was just the level of finshing that seperated them.

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EFL 2 Matchday 2

Lyon 2 v 1 Sparta Prague

Lyon's first home game of the season pitted them against Sparta Prague, who themselves lost there opening match against FC Porto, so both sides would be looking to get there first points of the season. It didn't start too well for the home side losing, through injury, influential midfielder Bondarenko which ended up being out for 4 weeks. He was replaced by Tolisso and he wasn't on the field for long when he opened the scoring for Lyon with an eye opening volley into the top corner with the home crowd stunned into silence! Sparta Prague albeit also stunned began to make inroads through the Lyon defence but to no avail.
The second half carried on from the first period with Sparta on the front foot but Lyon's defence handled there attacks well. A sub change for Lyon up front was made when young acadamee forward Baros came on for Traore and immediately made an impact supplying the through ball for midfielder Minamino to slot home Lyon's second of the game.
But minutes after celebrating Sparta caught out the home teams defence pulling a goal back with just 10 minutes left which left the home fans on tender hooks after seemingly being in control to surviving the last few minutes for all 3 points, but survive they did and recorded there first win of the season.

236 words

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EFL 2 Matchday 3

Valencia 0 v 1 Lyon

Lyon headed to the Mestalla Stadium, home of Valencia, to see if they can continue there decent form with Valencia winning there first game of the season against Ajax but suffered a bad defeat aginst FC Porto in there last match and in need of a result at home. But Lyon had other ideas with a defensive set up to start the game and try to nullify there strong attack which included Lyon's ex striker Lacazette.
Valencia started strongly controlling the midfield and tested the Lyon keeper Mvogo on a couple of occasions but he held firm, along with the away sides defence. As the first half was coming to the end it was Lyon who began to take control from the hosts midfield with a typical training ground move with Alvero threading a pass through the Valencia defence to Minamino who takes it first time hammering past the oncoming keeper to go in one nil up at half time.
Valencia came came out of the blocks fast to start the second half forcing the Lyon defence back but couldn't make any clear cut chances to get that all important goal.
Time eventually run out for Valencia who suffered there second loss in a row but Lyon were happy to come away with the points and hopefully keep up there decent form.

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EFL CUP ROUND 2

Lyon 2 v 0 Schalke

Lyon received a bye in the first round to then be hosts and drawn against German outfit Schalke who themselves ended up in round 2 after a bye also. Lyon controllled much of the game against the managerless Schalke with ease but could only break them down after 20 minutes when striker Traore got on the end of a through ball from Akouokou, who was replacing the injured Bondarenko in midfield, taking the shot first time to beat the dispairing dive of the opposition keeper much to the delight of the home fans. This spurred Lyon on as they drove forward and this paid off again when Traore scored his second of the game when his strike partner, Baros, sent over a superb cross to be met with an acrobatic overhead kick to take the lead by 2 goals just before the break.
The second half began with Schalke trying to make a game of this tie but couldn't break down the Lyon defence who handled the few attacks the German side made and time slowly ebbed away. So Lyon made through it through to round 3 and will be facing EFL division 2 side Valencia.

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Total so far
924

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EFL 2 MATCHDAY 4

Lyon 1 v 1 Feyenoord

Lyon welcomed the Dutch giants Feyenoord to the Groupama Stadium with the vistors unbeaten thus far in EFL 2 and it wasn't long before they took the lead after just 10 minutes when midfielder Barry finished off a good move slotting pass Lyon's keeper Mvogo to take the lead. But it was the Lyon's turn after just a few minutes to draw level after midfielders Diomande and Minamino combined together creating a wonderful move for Minamino to score. Lyon pushed on after scoring hoping to extend there lead but Feynoord held fast till half time.
Lyon started as they finished the previous half and tested Feyenoords keeper numerous times but he was equal to these testing times and with the visitors happy to sit back and counter it was heading towards a draw. Although the stats say Lyon had the better of the possession and shots etc it didn't convert into 3 points.

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EFL 2 MATCHDAY 5

Wolfsburg 2 v 1 Lyon

Lyon travelled to the Volkswagen Arena to face Wolfsburg in the fifth game in the EFL 2 League in which it's Wolfsburg's only second home game so far this season winning there first against Bilbao 3-0, so as such unbeaten at home. Wolfsburg started on the front foot pushing Lyon back with Lyon having a few sporadic counters in which there was one incident resulting in a VAR investigation which came to nothing. But as the first half was coming to a close Wolfsburg struck in the 44th minute when there defender Smolcic scored.
The second half began with Lyon obviously chasing the game creating more chances as time went on and then they caught a break against the run of play when Kepa, the home sides keeper, was adjudged to have fouled Lyon midfielder Niles, in which the Wolfsburg's players surrounded the ref astounded by the decision but was confirmed by VAR and the penalty was duly dispatched by Jeffinho to draw level.
Wolfsburg players were still angry with the penalty decision and took out on Lyon by there constant pressure which certainly put Lyon on the back foot and it paid off with forward Buta scoring the winner with minutes left. A disappointing end for Lyon but a somewhat decent performance away from home.

225 words

total so far

1311

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EFL 2 MATCHDAY 6

Lyon 4 v 0 PSV

Lyon recorded there biggest win so far this season with a four nil win over Dutch side PSV. It began as early as the 3rd minute with a 25 yard shot by Traore beating the PSV keeper, Provedel, who wasnt able to get anywhere the strike. The Dutch giants tried to respond but were hit with a perfect counter on ten minutes when defender, Balerdi, put through Traore to easily stroke his shot past the advancing PSV keeper to take a two goal lead. PSV just couldn't contain the marauding home side and seemed at odds in how to stop these continous attacks and Lyon struck again with Traore's strike partner Jefferson getting on the scoresheet with a beautiful curler avoiding the Dutch keepers outstretched hand to take the goal tally to 3.
Lyon were in complete control able to handle what there was of any attacks from PSV and things got worse when they lost a player to a senseless red card to make matters worse.
The fourth a final goal came from PSV but it was in there own net to make it a miserable night for the Dutch side.

201 words
toal so far

1512

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EFL 2 MATCHDAY 7

Lyon 0 v 0 RB Salzburg

A bore draw to be exact RB Salzburg attacked Lyon countered and neither side could score that vital goal. Sixteen shots but only six on target is poor there best player was a defender, how apt, but there you have it. It leaves Lyon in the top six but will need to improve just to keep there place to have any intention of making the play offs which is a long way off.

FOOTBALL LEAGUE TROPHY ROUND 2

Lyon 0 v 0 Borussia Dortmund

Lyon squeezed through on penalties after another uneventful game, yet again dominated the stats but just not scoring or taking there chances except when it came to penalties which was surprising and also playing against the ten men of Dortmund for nearly a hundred minutes! Not really sure how to change this but to keep plugging away and hope an avalanche of goals come there way..

160 words

total

1672