Celta Vigo – OL: 1-1 Do not let Celta take control and be impacted by their intensity to avoid dying in the first leg of the Europa League round of 16: that was the mantra of a weakened OL team that lost another offensive weapon (Himbert) in Galicia. With a collective performance displaying a level of mastery not seen since Marseille, or even January, the mission was successful for the Lyonnais who played against the clock.
“We did great things” As with Lens or Paris FC, it took until the final moments to see Endrick finally succeed with his left foot to secure a crucial equalizer (87th minute), although it does not predict anything: in the 21st century, Olympique Lyonnais have only advanced once after a draw away from home (Odessa, in the 2013-2014 Europa League round of 16). But facing a Celta Vigo team with little initiative (29% possession, 5 shots to 20), especially after the second yellow for top scorer Iglesias (54th minute), the situation is not bad.
“We did great things today. Many will think that Celta did not play, but because we pressed very well, reacted very well to the loss. Except for two moments, including that counter where we did not close in the middle enough, we dominated almost the entire match. We did everything to get this result, which is not bad, but we cannot think it is an advantage. Everything remains open, especially against this team so strong on the counter,” said Paulo Fonseca, who only regretted, “Not scoring more goals, but that’s unique, considering our courage and personality.”
With Moreira, Sulc, and Fofana returning? Aggressive, precise in construction despite a lack of depth runs, high in recovery, OL immediately besieged Radu’s goal, even though he only trembled twice before halftime against Endrick: on a shot from 20 meters grazing his first post (30th minute), and diving to the left on Morton’s cross touched by the Brazilian’s head (39th minute). Between the two, Celta nearly scored with Iglesias, denied in a duel by Greif (33rd minute), just eight minutes after that clinical 80-meter counter reminiscent of the final seconds at the Vélodrome, finished by Rueda (25th minute).
Despite forty minutes of superiority, it took the final twenty minutes to see the attack-defense intensify. Kango’s missile from 25 meters hitting the post (73rd minute), Yaremchuk’s header deflected by Radu (76th minute), Hamdani’s lively effort failing at the foot of the post (86th minute)… OL seemed unlucky, but Endrick’s late strike slipping under the body of the Romanian goalkeeper compensated for the Rhône team’s willpower. They could count on three reinforcements for the return leg as indicated by Paulo Fonseca: “We could recover Pavel (Sulc), Afonso (Moreira), or even Malick (Fofana), maybe not to start, but it will give us options.”
