2023-07-19 20:21:00
It is still too early to draw conclusions, especially in the middle of summer. But the friendly matches always deserve to be analyzed, scrutinized, spied on. This Tuesday, OL, Toulouse, Monaco, Lille and Stade Rennais were notably on deck. Here’s what to remember.
OL: Mata and Alvero play, Lopes already in good shape
OL lost to Manchester United (1-0) on Wednesday at Murrayfield stadium in a pre-season match, a score that might have been wider without the miracles performed by goalkeeper Anthony Lopes at the start of the game. The two clubs were each playing their second pre-season meeting. Manchester United, winner of Leeds United (2-0) for their first outing, changed their entire team at half-time when OL waited until the 63rd minute to make ten changes.
The English may have taken advantage of the freshness of the substitutes to take the advantage at the very start of the second half, with a goal scored by Donny van de Beek with a volley at the reception of a cross delivered from the right wing by Daniel Gore (49). The start of the game was very painful for the young OL team, saved by Anthony Lopes on several occasions following technical inaccuracies in the recovery phase which allowed the Red Devils to put themselves in a very good position, without however concluding.
However, once the storm passed, the Lyonnais managed to position themselves a little higher and to be dangerous. They might even have obtained a penalty for a foul on the Swede Amin Sarr shortly before half-time. OL coach Laurent Blanc opted for continuity by fielding the same starting lineup as on Saturday once morest De Treppers (3rd Dutch div.), a first match won 2-1 at the start. exception of the Croatian central defender, Dejan Lovren, injured and returned to Lyon.
OL, which ended their training period in the Netherlands with this match, which began on July 9, fielded their only two recruits, Angolan right-back Clinton Mata in the first half, then midfielder Skelly Alvero following the halftime and a very young central hinge composed of Sinaly Diomandé and Mamadou Sarr on the first 45 minutes.
Conversely, Lyon played without Maxence Caqueret, Castello Lukeba, Bradley Barcola and Rayan Cherki who played in the Euro hopes in June. Argentinian international left-back Nicolas Tagliafico made his comeback in the second half. OL will continue their preparation on July 23 in Brussels, once morest RWD Molenbeek, John Textor’s Eagle Football club, before playing in Spain in Vigo once morest Celta on July 29.
LOSC: Tiago Santos already decisive
LOSC began their preparation with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday at Domaine de Luchin, once morest Dunkirk (L2), rookie Tiago Santos delivering an assist on the first goal. From the 10th minute, the right side found on a center Amine Messoussa author of the opener. A first glimpse of what the young Portuguese (20 years old) can bring offensively.
Attacking midfielder Aaron Malouda (17), son of former French international Florent Malouda (80 caps, 9 goals), who signed his first professional contract on July 1, was behind Losc’s second goal by Remy Cabella. Returning from a season-long loan to Trabzonspor in Turkey, Yusuf Yazici helped Ichem Ferrah score the third goal late in the game.
Returning to training last week, Canadian forward Jonathan David played the second half. Attacking midfielder Hakon Haraldsson, Lille’s second rookie, played his first thirty minutes. LOSC will play its second preparation match on Saturday once morest Cercle Bruges (Belgian D1).
Rennes: Blas plays his first minutes
Stade Rennais was hooked (1-1) by US Concarneau on Wednesday in Rennes in a friendly match in preparation for the resumption of the championship. After the opening of the score of the visitors through Fahd El Khoumisti (52nd sp), Mathis Abline put the two teams tied regarding twenty minutes from the end (73rd). For its first friendly match of the season, Bruno Genesio’s team slowly resumed the rhythm and its automatisms. Ludovic Blas played the first 45 minutes of the match.
Reims: Diakite, rookie and scorer
Beaten by Eupen last weekend (2-3), Reims regained success once morest Charleroi (3-1). Arrived during the summer transfer window, Oumar Diakité scored his team’s first goal (1-0, 44th), followed by Marshall Munetsi (2-0, 45th). Anto Sekongo scored the 3-0 goal, before the Belgians reduced the score at the very end of the game.
Monaco: Volland still decisive
Monaco beat, following the break, the Spanish team of Betis Sevilla (3-1), Wednesday evening at Saint George’s Park, the national center of the English football federation. Thanks to a double from the German Kevin Volland (52nd and 66th) as well as a goal from the Japanese Takumi Minamino (76th), the Monegasques, currently training in Birmingham, won their first victory of their preparation.
After a draw once morest Union Saint-Gilloise (1-1) and a defeat at Cercle Bruges (3-0), Adi Hütter’s men, who will face the English of Leeds on Saturday, showed great collective attitudes once morest Manuel Pellegrini’s team. With the return to the starting XI of internationals Vanderson, Maripan, Jakobs, Fofana and Ben Seghir, who returned later, Monaco offered a solid first period, without managing to score. In turn, Fofana (20th), Ben Yedder (25th, 37th and 39th) and Ben Seghir (44th) were clumsy.
If, at the break, Adi Hütter replaced the ten field players, leaving the only Majecki in goal, author of a good hour before being replaced by the young Lienard, the tactical device in 3-4-2- 1 has not evolved. Always looking for quick attacks, the Monegasques opened the scoring through Volland, already a decisive passer once morest Union Saint-Gilloise, who took over from the left at the near post a good ball from Minamino (1-0, 56th).
Monaco doubled the bet on an action that pleased Hütter: Edan Diop intercepted an opposing raise to quickly serve Volland who, with a subtle dive, scored (2-0, 66th). Minamino then sealed victory for the Red and Whites. After Claudio Bravo stopped on Myron Boadu’s attempt, the Japanese resumed victoriously (3-0, 76th). But, like last season, Monaco conceded another goal, once more from a set piece. Central defender Luiz Felipe had no trouble winning a final duel from a corner to save Sevillian honor (3-1, 82nd).
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