Décines-Charpieu (France) (AFP)

Eight goals in seven games for Memphis Depay, selection of the Netherlands included: still lethal against Benfica Lisbon (3-1), Tuesday for the fourth day of the Champions League, the Dutch striker has reached the symbolic figure of fifty goals registered with Lyon, requinqué by his "Memphis".

The fiery striker (25 years) had already scored the 5000th goal in the history of Olympique Lyonnais against Metz (2-0) on October 26, a meeting for which he had been appointed captain.

This time, he volleyed a center delivered from the left wing by Houssem Aouar at the conclusion of a good overflow, to deceive the goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos (2-0, 34th), which he had already beaten. 'go (defeat 2-1).

Given its current form, it was almost a shame to see the Lyonnais out at the break in favor of Maxwel Cornet, because of an embarrassment to a thigh.

"Even though Memphis would have liked to start again, I did not want to take any chances with him," coach Rudi Garcia told RMC Sport on the final acceleration at the end of the first period. I wanted to stay to help the team, it was not at all what suited him and us. "

Anyway, Memphis brings his total to four goals in as many days of the Champions League this season, three lengths from the surprising Norwegian striker Haland (Salzburg).

And the Dutchman also shone in the game: at the very beginning of the game, it was he who had made the choice to play a corner with a short pass to Jeff Reine-Adelaïde who then slipped the ball to Léo Dubois whose center allowed Joachim Andersen to open the mark (4th).

- Captain Memphis after the truce? -

Thus, Memphis is involved in eight of the last nine goals of Olympique Lyonnais, a club he joined in January 2017 when he was out of the ban at Manchester United after training at PSV Eindhoven.

It is a nice revenge for a player often criticized for his inconstancy since his arrival between Rhône and Saone.

Often brilliant, able to score such incredible goals as the one scored against Toulouse in extra time Saturday (3-2), Memphis Depay seems to settle in a leadership role he has long claimed without being able to assume .

"Sometimes, a leader speaks and sometimes he says nothing and shows the way, I do both, then the coach decides," he told a press conference Monday about the captaincy that could come back to him after the international truce.

"My role has been pretty clear for the last three years that I'm here, I want to be an important player for the team, I've been a professional for ten years because I started young enough, I would do everything I could to lead team to victory and so that there is a good atmosphere, "he had said.

Obviously, the new club coach Rudi Garcia can count on him, especially as the Dutch will appreciate the style of play advocated by the technician.

"He likes offensive play and we try to put a lot of energy into trying to build attacking football, and we're on the right track, but sometimes we've missed some of the matches," he said. on Monday.

Sunday, in Marseille, for an "Olympico" for which Garcia is eagerly awaited at the Vélodrome, Memphis Depay will still try, if he plays, to be decisive as it was on March 18, 2018: he had given the victory to Lyon with a goal scored after regulation time (3-2). The clean of a "top" player.

© 2019 AFP