Lyon continued the search for their first Ligue 1 victory of the season as they played hosts to newly-promoted Metz. The game offered a much friendlier atmosphere in comparison to last week’s cancelled Olympico with Marseille which was marred by attacks on the Lyon team bus and alleged racism in the stands.
Les Gones should have been in front inside the opening 5 minutes as Mama Baldé was played through one-on-one with Oukidja but the Troyes loanee was unable to beat the Metz stopper. Diomandé then almost gave Metz the lead as he turned a corner goalwards but Anthony Lopes saved his blushes.
The game then fell into a rather scrappy state of affairs with neither team able to do any meaningful on or off the ball. In the 40th minute, Ablie Jallow rifled a powerful effort from the edge of the area but Lopes was able to palm his shot over for a corner. Jallow looked to be the danger man for Metz as he had another chance on the counter but Lopes was once again equal to his shot.
Mama Baldé did brilliantly to link up with Diawara to give the 18-year-old a glorious chance in stoppage time to give OL the lead, but the Lyon academy graduate scuffed his shot and couldn’t find the target. Neither team were able to find the back of the net as the intensity of the game increased at the end of the first half and the scores at the break remained goalless.
Lacazette had thought he had given Lyon the lead as he hit a volley on the swivel, but Metz’s debutant goalkeeper Guillaume Dietsch came up with a massive save the deny the OL captain. He then felt aggrieved as he wasn’t awarded a penalty in the Metz box, but he arguably should have taken the shot instead of trying to win a foul.
It was third time lucky for Jallow as he hit a wicked effort on the counter to give Metz the lead. Lopes was left stranded and could do nothing as the ball clattered in off the bar. Another match without victory looked inevitable for OL. Skelly Alvero did his best to rejuvenate hopes of a win though with a great hit from distance to score his first goal for the club and level proceedings. Lyon had 6 minutes plus stoppage time to find a winner.
The goalscorer, Alvero, had the chance to score the winning goal as Nuamah sent in a low and teasing cross but the former Sochaux midfielder couldn’t beat Dietsch in the Metz goal. Lyon had a late free kick in stoppage time but as Caqueret tried to better the angle for Lacazette, he could only fire his effort over the bar.
Despite their best efforts, Lyon’s languishing start to the season continues as they remain winless and at the foot of the table. OL are at risk of being cut adrift as they now sit 7 points from guaranteed safety.
Lyon player ratings:
Anthony Lopes – 6
Clinton Mata – 5
Jake O’Brien – 5
Sinaly Diomandé – 5
Saël Kumbedi – 5
Skelly Alvero – 6, The midfielder was the saviour for OL as he scored a late equaliser to prevent Metz from taking all three points. The former Sochaux man is starting to grow in confidence and looks effective in the midfield.
Maxence Caqueret – 7, Caqueret was the beating heart of Lyon’s midfield and put on another impressive display in midfield despite a disappointing all-round performance. His ability to win the ball back and spring counter-attacks is vital.
Mohamed Diawara – 5
Nicolás Tagliafico – 5
Alexandre Lacazette – 5, The Lyon captain should’ve won the game for OL had it not been for heroics from the Metz keeper but he looked like a frustrated figure up top and a shadow of the man who scored 27 Ligue 1 goals last season.
Mama Baldé – 6
GFFN | Liam Wraith
