Ligue 1: OL-Stade Rennais debrief (1-0) -

20 Minutes

  • In luxury joker mode, Houssem Aouar signed a very convincing entry into the game Wednesday against Stade Rennais, with a decisive goal (1-0, 74th).

  • Thanks to him but also to Memphis Depay, extremely inspired by the action of the goal, OL retains its third place in Ligue 1, just three points behind the Lille leader.

  • The bond between Aouar and Depay is reminiscent of two former numbers 8 and 10 of OL, Juninho and Benzema, decisive during the last Lyon coronation in Ligue 1 in 2008.

At Parc OL,

Difficult for a Lyon supporter to dream of a more iconic duo than that formed by Juninho and Karim Benzema during the last title of French OL champion, in 2007-2008.

By accumulating 28 goals and 19 assists in Ligue 1 that season, these two Lyon legends made Gerland vibrate as rarely, before leaving France a year later.

You see us coming: if, ten days from the end, OL are still able to dream of an 8th coronation in L1, the first for 13 years, they owe it especially on Wednesday night to their shock tandem Memphis Depay -Houssem Aouar.

His statistical record (19 goals and 11 offerings in L1) is obviously still far from that of “Juni” and “Benz”.

But the comparison between numbers 8 and 10 accomplices in the Rhône is based on their major influence on the success of their team.

Inside Sunday in Marseille (1-1), Memphis Depay and especially Houssem Aouar delivered the best possible response on Wednesday to overcome Stade Rennais (1-0).

Disappointing in Marseille and left on the bench at kickoff on Wednesday, Houssem Aouar responded well against Rennes (1-0).

- PHILIPPE DESMAZES / AFP

"Memphis does something pretty amazing on goal"

Removed from the starting 11 for the first time in a month, Houssem Aouar “changed the face of the team,” says Rudi Garcia, after coming back on time. Creativity, simplicity, sense of passing, and crucial goal "with a lot of composure" (1-0), the 22-year-old midfielder gave us his whole palette in 30 minutes.

The great guy of the Final 8 in Lisbon may have his click to try to bring his own to an unexpected title.

And the least we can say is that Memphis Depay damn made him shine on this one.

We play the 74th minute when Lyon's top scorer, well launched in the axis, finds himself in the fight with Nayef Aguerd.

The two men cling to the edge of the surface, and the former Manchester United player is very clever, falling first, before getting up to run and tackle this boiling ball with rage in the direction of Houssem Aouar.

"Memphis is doing something quite incredible because he was two to three meters behind at the start, then he gave a magnificent ball to Houssem", relishes Rudi Garcia.

"Follow the leader".

PHILIPPE DESMAZES - AFP

"Memphis hates defeat and he passes that on to his teammates"

An action all in giving of oneself, fighting spirit and altruism, very far from the image of the individualist attacker in search of light and statistics so often wrongly conveyed about him.

“Memphis is a magnificent player and a good captain, insisted his partner Tino Kadewere on Wednesday night.

All he does is for the team, and we need a captain like that, always nice.

We won thanks to him today.

If the third in Ligue 1 (three points from Losc) is currently not convincing in the game, despite a much more pressing second period Wednesday, his iconic guide rarely goes through in hot moments.

"Memphis is above all a real competitor," approves Rudi Garcia.

He hates loss and I think he passes that on to his teammates.

OL have a captain who is their spearhead.

“With such a Houssem Aouar by his side, Lyon can always continue to dream of a coronation of madness on May 23.

At this rate, one could almost imagine the two accomplices singing

Y a cher moy

from the balcony of Terreaux, between a few songs by the fantastic Dutchman.

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  • 20 minutes video

  • Soccer

  • Rennais Stadium

  • Sport

  • Lyon

  • OL

  • Memphis depay