Décines-Charpieu (France) (AFP)

A goal from Islam Slimani allowed Lyon to snatch the draw (1-1) against Brest on Saturday at home on the first day of Ligue 1, for the first official match of his coach Peter Bosz.

Substitute at kick-off and came into play two minutes earlier, Slimani equalized thanks to a header from Karl Toko-Ekambi (62nd), while OL were behind 1-0 after a goal from Ivan Cardona scored just before half-time (43rd).

This first poor performance shows that Peter Bosz, who took over from Rudi Garcia in the offseason, has a lot of work to do to develop the attractive and attacking football he advocates.

Certainly, the Brazilian Lucas Paqueta, who played in the Copa America in June with Brazil, is out of form and only entered on the hour mark (60th) and his compatriot Bruno Guimaraes, Olympic champion on Saturday with la Seleçao, has not yet returned.

In defense, the Belgian Jason Denayer, sick, and Maxwel Cornet, injured, were absent.

The club's two rookies, Damien Da Silva and the Brazilian Henrique, two second-rate players who arrived free, were suspended.

Up front, Tino Kadewere was only a substitute, not yet 100% after a muscle injury in the spring on which he was operated.

With 75% sterile possession in the first period, Olympique Lyonnais was unable to create the slightest opportunity and Cardona, at the conclusion of a quick attack, gave the Brestois the advantage with a long shot, the only frame of the Bretons before the break, without being put under pressure by the Rhone defenders.

- essential reinforcements -

In the second half, before the equalizer, Brest could well have worsened the gap and folded the case on actions deserving to be better negotiated with an in-extremis rescue of Marcelo in front of Romain Faivre (56th) and two parades of Anthony Lopes on the head of Brendan Chardonnet and Steve Mounié (57th, 81st).

For its part, OL, despite its wide domination, a little confused, in the last half hour and opportunities of Moussa Dembélé (71st) or Houssem Aouar (73rd, 90th) failed to take the advantage .

It is therefore an OL decimated and with three 18-year-old players at the kickoff, which was hooked by Brest, a club which is not among the top names of L1.

But Bosz takes time.

He needs recruits, and of quality, one per line.

The Lyon team lacks a professional left-back, a position occupied on Saturday by Léo Dubois, inducted captain and who usually plays on the right, but also a sentinel defensive midfielder while Thiago Mendes is on the start and little involved.

Brest defender Brendan Chardonnet tries to counter the center of Lyon captain Léo Dubois in L1 on August 7, 2021 in Lyon JEAN-PHILIPPE KSIAZEK AFP

And the attack is obviously likely to suffer from the departure, free, of its leader Memphis Depay (22 goals, 12 assists last season).

It is not certain that the club's finances allow it to attract top players, especially by only playing in the Europa League.

With the deficiencies displayed against the Stade Brestois, Lyon is however already in an emergency to strengthen its team on pain of not being able to fight for European places.

With the expected return of absent holders on Saturday and the end of the transfer window, August will be decisive.

© 2021 AFP