Arrogant ease, elegant persistence. 48 hours after the Lyon demonstration at Stade du Ray, the adjectives to describe it accumulate, but the equation for OL’s opponents might prove to be unsolvable throughout the season if the Rhodanians keep up such performances. The Eagles, however, resisted for a half, heroic as personified by Hugo Lloris and daring like Vahirua’s raid that made Gregory Coupet’s net tremble. But that was not enough. It was a goal, certainly magnificent, but deceptive, a mere illusion lost during halftime in the Ray locker rooms.
There is a class difference between the two teams. First-class, all comfortable, full option with delivery of champagne and appetizers for Olympique Lyonnais while OGC Nice will travel in the second class of the championship. It’s less pleasant; it’s more crowded and you get shaken with every movement of your neighbor. The red and blacks will not have a comfortable Ligue 1 season this year. By the evening of the fourth day, that’s for certain. Frédéric Antonetti, the Nice coach, is aware of it: “even though we had a decent first half. There were three classes between us.” It will require self-denial, will, and self-surpassing for the Eagles to replicate their excellent run from last season, provided they don’t falter with this traumatizing last place position. In a league where, apart from OL, all the teams are equal and the first three matches of Gym attest to it, doubt among the players constitutes a brake and manifests through sloppy controls, passes made too slowly. The mini international break will allow the staff to rejuvenate the wounded morale of the troops.
It will also make it possible to treat physical injuries. Without seeking excuses, OGC Nice was not fully operational. Baky Koné, Florent Balmont, and Cédric Varrault had been spared all week, victims of sprains. “Pancho” Abardonado was injured during the match just like Baky Koné and Cédric Kanté, the defensive recruit, was playing his first match. No excuses, only circumstances that worsen the final result.
Lyon was too strong. An unintentionally arrogant Lyon due to their technical and physical superiority. Even when behind, the French champions seemed serene as if, at the break, without worries, they had said, “We will win anyway”. Thus, stone after stone, pass after pass, they sowed the seeds of their victory and the little Niçois lost themselves on the green lawn of Ray chasing after the ball, only to find it again in their net. Lyon persisted in building, advancing… It’s elegant and exemplary. One might be a Nice supporter, one might detest Aulas’ methods, but when you love football you can only admire and envy Lyon’s play and victories.
