PLAYER RATINGS | Lille 3-4 Lyon: Substitutes inspire yet another dramatic comeback for OL

Lille were hoping to regain advantage over Brest in the race for Champions League football as they welcomed Lyon to the Stade Pierre Mauroy on a rare Monday evening in Ligue 1. In contrast, OL were looking to stay in the hunt for European football and continue their dramatic recovery drive up the table.  

Lyon quickly began to struggle in the opening stages of the game. With several misplaced passes and reckless attempts to win the ball, OL were forced into a deeper shape allowing Lille to pick their passes and control the game in the earlier stages. This dominance was rewarded from one of several free kicks.  

Yusuf Yazici played a lovely vertical ball into the area from the free kick and Bafodé Diakité leaped above everyone else to expertly head the ball home into the far corner. Lyon’s reckless pressing approach was punished after conceding several free kicks to the hosts in the opening 20 minutes. Zhegrova replaced the injured Yazici in the 25th minute and almost made an instant impact as his curling effort from distance had to be turned around the post by Lopes. 

Zhegrova punished some lapse play from Lyon whilst playing out of the back with a great reverse shot to deceive Lopes and double Lille’s lead. Les Gones began to look helpless to avoid defeat with abjectly poor defending for both goals and sloppy passing in possession as the hosts took a two goal lead into the break. 

After Lille’s superiority in the first half, there was a renewed intent from the visitors at the start of the second half as they played in a much more positive and progressive nature in comparison to the early stages of the first half. Benrahma ensured that these exploits were fruitful with a brilliantly taken finish on the counter attack.