beaten by Lyon, Monaco let go in the title race

Title hopes are probably gone, Sunday, May 2, for AS Monaco, beaten 3-2 at home by Olympique Lyonnais who are reviving, for their part, in the race for the Champions League.

On the evening of the 35^e day, the Monegasques are five points behind leader Lille, and four on PSG. With nine points still at most to be taken, the comeback seems improbable for the ASM, which must rather look in its rearview mirror: thanks to its victory in the evening, OL have come back to one point from third place.

The Lyonnnais knew that victory was needed to hope to end the season on the podium, synonymous with qualification in C1. She took shape after a crazy match. First led by a goal from Kevin Volland in the 25^e minute, Lyon gave the keys to their destiny to Memphis Depay, scorer (1-1, 57^e) then decisive passer for Marcelo’s header (2-1, 77^e).

Manhandled, quickly deprived of Jason Denayer released on injury (29^e), forced to finish ten after the deserved exclusion of Maxence Caqueret for a nasty sole (70^e), Lyon had the merit of not disarming, especially when his goalkeeper Anthony Lopes caused a penalty for a rude punch in the face of Pietro Pellegri on a kamikaze exit of which he is a specialist.

General brawl

Ben Yedder, full of composure, transformed him from a panenka and suggested a points division (2-2, 86^e)… Until Rayan Cherki came to offer OL an incredible victory in the 89^e minute on a center set back from De Sciglio. Monaco, which remained on five consecutive victories, had not conceded a single goal for two months in all competitions.

The meeting ended in a general fight, and the referee Clément Turpin released a few red cards to calm everyone – Willem Geubbels and Pietro Pellegri on the Monegasque side, De Sciglio and Marcelo for Lyon -, leaving fear a slew of suspensions during of the next day, however crucial for the final sprint.

“The provocation comes from them, it is abnormal that we took red cards when we did nothing, we did not even retaliate”, was indignant the Lyon coach Rudi Garcia. An accusation refuted by his counterpart Niko Kovac, who indicated that “The images speak for themselves”, conceding all the same that some of his young players had to “Learn from their mistakes”.

The experienced Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas did not hesitate to fuel the controversy. “It revives the whole dynamic of the [qualification pour la] Champions League. Today we are having a good time. However, at the end of the match, we had no reason to be attacked as was the case ”, tackled the manager at the microphone of Canal +, setting the tone for an ultra-disputed end of the season.