PLAYER RATINGS | Lyon 2-1 Strasbourg: Lacazette’s heroic brace completes dramatic season turnaround as OL qualify for the Europa League | OneFootball

Lyon hosted Strasbourg as they aimed to complete the comebacks of all comebacks and qualify for European football after previously looking destined for relegation in the first half of the season.

OL tried their best to find an opening goal with some great passing and fluid positional play but Strasbourg’s low block was able to nullify the hosts from any major threat. Rayan Cherki had the best chance of the opening 25 minutes as he was slid through with a defence-splitting ball from Jake O’Brien but the Frenchman’s shot was just shy of the post.

Les Gones almost took the lead from a corner which was met by Tolisso. The midfielder did brilliantly to direct his header downwards but Bellaarouch was able to deal with the bounce. Tagliafico had a chance to reconnect on the rebound but the ball evaded him.

Lacazette finally gave Lyon the lead after 39 minutes as Cherki linked up brilliantly with Saïd Benrahma to free the Algerian and then he simply played a square ball to the Lyon captain to smash home. After almost 40 minutes of frustration, Les Gones finally found a breakthrough.

Cherki had another big chance in the opening stages of the second half but his effort was once again narrowly wide. OL’s inability to take their chances would cost them. Strasbourg countered quickly after Lyon were wasteful in possession and levelled the game through Habib Diarra. Lopes arguably should have done better to parry the shot at his near post.

Strasbourg’s leveller and a raft of substitutes unsettled Lyon and allowed the visitors to gain a foothold in the match. Their renewed momentum would result in a penalty with Mangala pulling Lucas Perrin down in the box. However, Emmanuel Emegha could not convert the penalty as he his shot crashed against the woodwork to keep Lyon’s European dreams alive.

Ernest Nuamah almost had the chance to ease OL nerves as Sylla made a mistake in the penalty area but he couldn’t punish the Strasbourg defender. Soon after Lyon thought it would be their turn to have a penalty but the decision was reversed by VAR.

Second time around VAR would award Lyon a penalty as Malick Fofana was kicked in the box. Lacazette made no mistake from the spot with a delayed run up to send Bellaarouch the wrong way. The captain’s heroics would be enough to secure not just European qualification but a place in the Europa League after Lens failed to beat Montpellier.

Lyon player ratings:

Anthony Lopes: 5 – Unable to keep a clean sheet on his last night between the sticks at the Groupama Stadium, Lopes had a rather up and down night. With a couple of hairy moments in the air and really good saves, the Lyon stopper ultimately should have done better at his near post for the visitors’ goal.

Clinton Mata: 6

Duje Ćaleta-Car: 6

Jake O’Brien: 6

Nicolás Tagliafico: 6

Nemanja Matić: 6

Maxence Caqueret: 6

Corentin Tolisso: 6

Rayan Cherki: 7 – Involved in almost everything creatively for Lyon in the first 60 minutes, Cherki was influential in what was a promising showing for the Frenchman. His fluid positioning to come central and drop deep where required facilitated some great attacking play at times.

Alexandre Lacazette: 8 – Mr. Reliable once again. The Lyon captain was once again the difference maker for his boyhood club with a winning brace to help complete a remarkable comeback and qualify for the Europa League next season.

Saïd Benrahma: 6

GFFN | Liam Wraith