The shock: OM-OL, things are heating up!
“Olympico” has remained a highlight of each Ligue 1 season in recent years, often tight, sometimes spectacular but also very hot in the stands.
Positioned at the end of the season as Sunday (8:45 p.m.), it becomes even more attractive, even if the two formations do not seem to be fighting in the same category.
Marseille, 2nd, has 13 points more than Lyon, remains in the race for a European trophy (the Europa League Conference) despite their 3-2 loss at Feyenoord in the semi-final first leg on Thursday and holds the rope to clinch second place, synonymous direct ticket for the Champions League next season, alongside the champion of France, Paris SG.
“It will still be difficult against a team used to fighting for Europe. We will all have to remain mobilized, ”announced coach Jorge Sampaoli.
As for Lyon, its 8th place obliges it to be faultless, because the last qualifying place for Europe (5th) is already five points ahead, unless a pileup of results returns 6th European place.
Peter Bosz’s men are experiencing a paradoxical end to the season: able to afford offensive demonstrations, as in their last two home matches (6-1 then 5-2 against Bordeaux and Montpellier), they also thwart quite regularly, as in Brest on April 20 (2-1 defeat).
The meeting is also under tension in the stands, after the bottle throwing hit Dimitri Payet in the first leg at the end of October, an incident which caused the postponement of the match, finally won by OL (2-1), while having suffered d a penalty point in the file.
The player: Bernardoni, ASSE is counting on him
Called to the rescue in the winter transfer window from Angers on loan, Paul Bernardoni (25) has the heavy task of keeping the goals for Saint-Etienne on Saturday (9:00 p.m.) in Rennes, a big caliber in the championship (3rd), in quest for qualification for the Champions League.
The former goalkeeper of the Espoirs selection has struggled in recent weeks to plug the gaps in the Saint-Etienne defense, conceding 29 goals in 16 matches, but he also saved a few points, as against Brest (2-1) on April 16 with a great stoppage late in the game.
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If the goalkeeper’s future is uncertain – his loan is coming to an end and Angers has already recruited promising Le Havre goalkeeper Yahia Fofana – his adaptation to Forez has been hailed and Bernardoni was quickly seduced, despite the worrying 18th place in the standings. .
“I keep repeating it but we are in a big club. When I see what we are experiencing at the stadium, this soul that I have often felt as an opponent … It is really very pleasant to be in the Stéphane camp, ”he said in recent days in conference Press.
The figure: 55 goal difference, the abyss
Permeability against solidity: Bordeaux-Nice, Sunday (5:05 p.m.), could be summed up like this. At home, a Gironde team in total disintegration, 19th in L1 and unable to plug the breaches. Outside, Nice lack of offensive inspiration but still united in their quest for “clean sheets”.
The statistical consequence is dizzying: Bordeaux have conceded 55 more goals than Nice this season in 34 matches, or just over 1.6 goals per match.
With 84 goals conceded, the worst defense of the five major European championships breaks records. Never has a team given up so many times in L1 in the past 40 years… over an entire season.
“That’s our difficulty, we don’t know how to hold a result at the moment. However, we raised the problem in training, before the match, at half-time … ”, complained coach David Guion after the 5-3 defeat in Nantes on Sunday after a crazy match.
Opposite, the Gym (29 goals conceded) is not in the best phase of its season, but with a 5th place, it still has its chances of snagging Europe, either in L1 or via the Cup final of France on May 7 against Nantes.
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