Ten matches played since the start of the 2023-2024 Ligue 1 season and still no victory for Olympique Lyonnais (OL). Sunday November 5, against Metz, at Groupama Stadium, the Rodhaniens limited the damage, snatching a draw (1-1) thanks to Skelly Alvero in the 84the minute. Six minutes earlier, Ablie Jallow had opened the scoring for Lorraine.
With an additional point – only the fourth since the start of the championship – OL remain last in the standings. The stakes of the day were all the more important against a Metz team also at the bottom of the table, 16e with six points more than the Lyonnais. The coming months will be decisive for OL’s future in the elite, having not experienced Ligue 2 since the 1988-1989 season. The club faces a delicate schedule: with the reception of its bête noire, Rennes, then a match against two teams in form, Lille and Lens. On December 6, the postponed match against Marseille will also be played, the kick-off of which had been canceled due to the stones of the Rhodaniens bus on the way to the Stade-Vélodrome.
“We have to get there”
Before the match, the supporters unfurled a large banner with a crystal clear message in front of Groupama Stadium: “Objective = maintenance”. Nearly ten similar banners were then displayed in the stands, as the players entered the pitch. “It is certain that the club does not aspire to maintain its position, but I do not think that the jersey imposes additional pressure on us, on the contrary. This should galvanize us. The reality is that we are last and we are holding on, for the moment”conceded midfielder Maxence Caqueret after the match.
The final whistle gave way to other whistles, those of the ultras from the north turn who did not hesitate to show their anger at the situation of their team. Coach Fabio Grosso went to meet them: “We have to get there, I can’t imagine anything else”, he told them in particular according to the images captured by the Prime Video channel. The Italian was applauded by the public after his speech.
” Something is missing [pour que l’OL gagne enfin]. I don’t know what because if I knew, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”, then recognized the coach at a press conference. And to insist: “There was an extraordinary atmosphere and the responsibility is enormous to continue working hard. »