Coupe de France (round of 32) : Luçon vs Lyon – Mind the trap!

So we’re back to yet another Cup game. Not the Coupe de la Ligue, that was last week. Not the Coupe de France either, that was the week before. No, wait, that’s the Coupe de France again, but the next round. I’m getting confused… The good thing is that Lisandro isn’t. He repeated this week that he WANTS to get a trophy with OL this year, and a French Cup, whichever it is, is a good and (normally) not too difficult way to get one. Provided you play at your level, that is, and try to avoid the shame of being the “Underperformer of the Weekend”. Already, Auxerre and Ajaccio got eliminated yesterday by opponents from lower leagues, booo… OL players will want to keep that in mind and spare themselves embarrassment when travelling to the La Beaujoire Stadium in Nantes to meet the Vendée club of Luçon.

First of all, who are these Luçon guys?

Difficult to tell, other than it is a good CFA team at the top of their League and recognized for their level of play worthy of the league above (National).

Well placed to answer that question – at least better than me -, their coach said “Our team is atypical. People usually speak of offensive or defensive teams. But we chose risk and madness. We give it all and rarely end our matches frustrated, so hopefully that will also be the case on Sunday. In any case, I will tell my players to have fun and avoid regrets. I also know that I will not need to emphasize the mental aspect.”
According to another well placed observer – the coach of their last victims, Avranches, the team Luçon beat to reach this stage- “”If Luçon are there, that’s because it is well deserved. This team not only has a collective strength that puts you in trouble very quickly when it attracts you – and then you must be very strong in getting the ball back – but it also has individual talents. As a result, Luzon is capable of a real feat. If Lyon are not at their level, anything can happen … ”

After a promising win against Lille, but a disappointing display against Montpellier, where are we now?

Seen from the outside, Lyon’s true level is a mystery. As Luçon coach puts it, “To me, OL are a question mark. In what state of mind will they come? Who will play? What is the influence of the transfer window? On what I saw, the team seems inconsistent. It is quite surprising and it is unclear how to analyze it. ”

Seen from the inside, after weeks of desperation spent counting the new absences, this week was positive, even refreshing. On Tuesday, Gomis and Cissokho resumed training after a little stay in the infirmary. Réveillère and Gourcuff were deemed too short to be back in the group this weekend, like Cris, but the other good news came from the Ligue 1 Disciplinary Committee, as Mouhamadou Dabo was only sanctioned with a one-game ban – already served vs Montpellier – following his expulsion against Lille in the League Cup. It’s a positive surpise, as whilst the red card seemed harsh, the Committee ususally would give a two to three match ban for an average red card. And indeed Dabo had been more severely punished (for three matches) following a red card for a more violent but equally spectacular foul against St Etienne last October. So in the absence of Réveillère, Dabo can slot in the right flank temporarily occupied by a defensive midfielder, Gueida Fofana, last Saturday at La Mosson stadium in Montpellier.
If the right back is therefore covered, the left back was also a headache last week. But the return in form of Cissokho – who most probably won’t go anywhere else this winter – solves the problem. At the center of the back line, however, no changes.Lovren, with an Achilles tendon injury, is also suspended, Cris is not back to fitness, Koné and Mensah are at the ACN. Therefore Maxime Gonalons will again help in the position of central defender. “I look forward to seeing him back in the middle, as it is the best job for him and the team, but he is forced to go back right now,” said Remi Garde.
For the second central back, however, the staff seems not to be desiring an extra defender as ardently as at the beginning of the year. Why? It may well be because – or thanks to – Samuel Umtiti. Despite his young age (18 years), he started three matches against la Duchère, Lille and Montpellier, and did well. Rémi Garde believes the player and the man can live up to expectations. “He has the attitude and potential to do something good. It is early in his career and he takes it from the right point, with respect and without fear. All educators at the club had the same analysis on him and, in football, age is not that important. “. To Garde, he has a profile à la Patrick Müller, strong in reading the game and anticipating. With some areas for improvement: “take the measure of the speed of the game in L1 and the impact that goes with it. ” So with such a backing, Umtiti is likely to start his fourth game in a row…

The teams
Luçon : Leclère – Gnaleko, Chemin, Lavoyer, Bertho – Abahlil, Germann, Masala, Larbi – Mayenga, Seck.

Lyon : Lloris – Dabo, Gonalons, Umtiti, Cissokho – Briand, Grenier, Källström, Bastos – Gomis, Lisandro.

So… Allez l’OL, see you at the next round!

Some Related Lyon Posts:

Category: Team News and Rumors