The Match: 2-0
Spending a weekend in London at the beginning of August often proves to be a good idea. The weather and sunshine are usually there, and English supporters never refuse an opportunity to spend time in a football stadium. It was indeed in the jovial and family-friendly atmosphere of the Emirates Stadium that Olympique Lyonnais played its sixth and final warm-up match against Arsenal as part of the Emirates Cup, a friendly trophy.
Deprived of their Olympic silver medalists Alexandre Lacazette and Rayan Cherki, who enjoyed a few days of rest after their impressive blue adventure, the Lyonnais suffered a nightmare in the first half, not suffocated by the heat of the English capital, but by the intense pressing from Mikel Arteta’s men who deprived them of the ball for a good half-hour. The Gunners seized them by the throat right from the kickoff and never let go, converting this dominance with a goal from William Saliba following a corner by Declan Rice (9th).
Overclassed in every area of the game, the Lyonnais conceded a second goal from another corner, with the same Rice orchestrating a header from Gabriel, the other central defender of the Gunners, who outpaced Corentin Tolisso (27th). The score could have been much worse if the Londoners had been more precise (3rd, 15th, 18th, 23rd, 35th) and without two enormous saves by Clinton Mata against Gabriel Martinelli (26th, 31st). Meanwhile, OL created two very timid opportunities through Saïd Benrahma, who failed to hit the target with his attempt (40th), and then Georges Mikautadze, who fluffed his volley at the conclusion of the Olympic side’s most promising action of the first half (42nd).
2
Lyon has only lost two of its six warm-up matches. This Sunday, against Arsenal (2-0) and against the Germans of St-Pauli (1-0). They also achieved three victories against Chassieu (7-0), WSGT (3-2), and Union Berlin (4-0), and a draw against Torino (0-0).
The second half started on the same bases as the previous one with a missed shot from Mikautadze (49th), to which Martin Odegaard responded, forcing Perri to stretch to save his shot from a Martinelli cross (50th). Shortly after, Thomas Partey (53rd) and then Kai Havertz (54th) also missed the target, and Saka hit the post (55th), giving the Rhodanians a bit more trouble.
After weathering the storm, Benrahma took a long shot, but his 25-meter strike ended up in the stands (60th). Jorginho, who came on for Partey (77th), also tested the OL goalkeeper, who deflected his cross-shot to a corner (83rd). In the following counter, Ernest Nuamah, who replaced Abner (65th), lost his duel against Raya after being perfectly launched by Lucas Perri (84th).
Although the Lyonnais did not concede another goal after the break, they showed worrying defensive weaknesses on set pieces. However, they still have a week to refine these details before resuming against Rennes next Sunday.
The Player: Mikautadze Did Not Make an Impact
In the absence of Alexandre Lacazette, Georges Mikautadze was once again starting at the forefront of the Lyon attack, flanked by Saïd Benrahma and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The summer recruit was starting his second match after the one against Union Berlin (4-0) and did not have an easy afternoon against the Saliba-Gabriel duo.
There was indeed that attempted lob over Raya at the beginning of the match, but it did not come to fruition (2nd), nor did his follow-up shot from a great cross by Maitland-Niles, who did not do much else well against his former club (42nd). Not shy of effort, he failed to find the solution and saw his pivot shot fly well over Raya’s goal (49th). He was replaced by Orban in the 65th minute, undoubtedly a bit frustrated by his match.