A late screamer from Memphis Depay was enough to secure Olympique Lyon victory against PSG. The highly disputed affair leaves PSG’s morale a little bruised, but still confidently leading affairs in Ligue 1.
Late game drama courtesy of Memphis Depay
On Sunday evening, Lyon played hosts to PSG in one of Ligue 1’s most important games this season. More than anything, the game proved a test for Paris Saint Germain who has lead proceedings in Ligue for the last years. On the other hand, Lyon is the nearest challenger to the Paris team.
Neymar was the big absentee on the evening, out with a thigh injury. The Brazilian was integral to PSG’s previous 8-0 victory against FC Dijon, last Wednesday. His four-goal run still left PSG fans unhappy, booing the player at the end of the game. The loss against Lyon, ill have shown PSG’s weaknesses. One of the main ones, to the chagrin of fans, is having to play without Neymar.
Nabil Fekir gave the hosts the lead in the second minute. PSG made a comeback in the final stages of the second half through Layvin Kurzawa. Both teams enjoyed plenty of opportunities to score in the second half. A red card for defender Dani Alves, left the French champions feeling lopsided. Just as the teams looked like they were going to leave with one point each, Memphis Depay scored a brilliant long-range goal that brought Lyon the victory.
Emery feels the result was unfair to PSG
The French derby proved a balanced game. At least, until Alves’ red-card which forced the Ligue 1 champions to do extra work to maintain the result. Depay’s brought Lyon three points closer in their challenge of first place. PSG manager Unai Emery feels the result was unfair given the game had been played up to the moment when the final goal was scored.
“Both teams gave everything for 90 minutes. Some events were complicated for us, but we were able to overcome them with personality. We had opportunities and possession of the ball, 1-1, that would have been a fair result,” Emery told reporters
“We started the second period as we finished the first, with mastery on our part. We did not concede an opportunity, but the expulsion meant that we lost control of this game. The team worked well. We conceded a shot late in the game. Lyon have good players, which allowed [Depay] him to score this second goal. It’s a bit unfair, but it’s football.”
Injury concerns for Kylian Mbappe
There were further headaches for manager Unai Emery, as star-striker Kylian Mbappe left the field injured. The teenage player crashed into Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes. PSG’s medical staff reassured fans that the injury was “nothing serious”.
Mbappe, for his part, says he bears no grudges to Lopes for the injury. The striker had to be offer treatment by the team’s physicians. “Just a message to tell you that I’m fine. It was more fear than harm despite the impressive shock – without a grudge, A. Lopes. And thank you for all your messages,” the player said in a Tweet.
Fekir thinks Lyon can qualify for the Champions League
Fekir scored a memorable goal against PSG. President Jean-Michel Aulas’ favorite has no ilusions about the side’s chances to win the Ligue 1 trophy. He is, however, confident that the team can succesfuly qualify to the Champions League and
“We are very satisfied, but there are still a lot of matches. We will fight to snatch a place on the podium. Paris have a lot of lead – the goal for us is to have a place in the Champions League,” Fekir tells Canal+.
The player also spoke about his goal which took advantage of an error from PSG’s goalie Alphonse Areola. “It’s a goal that has allowed us to take advantage. Then we went a little too far back. During this game, we suffered a lot, because PSG have a big capacity to keep the ball. But what is important is that we stayed in place defensively. It was important and the whole team is to be congratulated.”
Ligue 1 contests continue to be organized in FootballCoin. In fact, they represent one of the biggest chances to win XFC, with most of the players in the French league, available as free player cards. Keep an eye out for oportunities to join existing contests.
