Champions League: OL aim for a new feat against Bayern Munich in the semi-final

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

3 min

After eliminating Juventus Turin from Cristinao Ronaldo and Manchester City, Lyon will challenge Bayern Munich on Wednesday August 19 in Lisbon in the semi-final. The German club, which has had a flawless course, remains the big favorite of the 2019-2020 edition.

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Lyon, Petit Poucet of the semi-finals, will have nothing to lose against Bayern Munich, who have so far trampled all their opponents. With seven goals against Chelsea (round of 16), eight against Barcelona (quarter-finals), nine wins in nine Champions League matches, the German club is a big favorite to lift the Cup with big ears next Sunday.

"  Bayern gave a lesson in football against Barça "

"  Bayern gave a lesson in football against Barça, in all areas : high pressing, possession, work without the ball,  " recognizes the Lyon sports director Juninho. Olympique Lyonnais will therefore be looking for a new achievement after eliminating in the quarter-finals Manchester City (3-1), a team which also passed for a favorite of this "Final 8".

“  We eliminated very big teams, teams like Juventus and Manchester City. It proves that we are at the same level as these formations. But we must not get carried away, we must keep our feet on the ground and continue to work hard. The most important thing is to focus on ourselves  , ”said the Ivorian Maxwel Cornet, hero of the qualification, in an interview with the UEFA website.

It must be said that Bayern not only won the German Cup and the Championship at home, but also and above all have frightening statistics in the Champions League: first an absolute record in the group stage with 18 points out of 18 possible and a goal difference of +19 (24 scored, five conceded). And by the way a first card on the lawn of the finalist of last season Tottenham, humiliated 7-2 in October.

"  When the big matches are there, Lyon always responds  "

But Corentin Tolisso, French midfielder from Bayern, trained in Lyon, certifies that his team is wary of Lyonnais. “  Lyon are in the C1 semi-finals, and I don't think a team gets there by chance. At no time will we underestimate this team. Maybe from a German point of view this is the least known team. But everyone watched the match and saw what OL were capable of. When the big matches are there, Lyon always responds. We saw the performance against City, second in the Premier League and who has great attacking potential  , ”he said in the columns of L'Équipe.

Lyon, which finished in seventh place in the French Championship, will still have work to do against the Bavarians who dream of the second Cup-Championship-Champions League treble after that of 2013, so far the only one in the club history. Manuel Neuer, David Alaba and Thomas Müller are the three other survivors of the 2013 triumph. Unless they are injured at the last minute, they will all start against Lyon.

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