PLAYER RATINGS | Lens 1-1 Lyon, OL’s new signings struggle in an even encounter
Ligue 1 21/22, Round 25 – 19/2/22
LENS – 1 (Clauss 13)
Wuilker Faríñez, 5
Facundo Medina, 6
Kevin Danso, 5
Christopher Wooh, 4
Jonathan Clauss, 6 – He saw few opportunities to threaten from crosses but he followed up sharply to slot home a tricky first-time finish, despite the open goal, for 1-0.
Massadio Haïdara, 5
Cheick Doucouré, 5
Seko Fofana, 6
Florian Sotoca, 7 – He impressed in an usually deep role, almost playing as a central midfielder at times, but managed to provide the most shot-creating actions (5) and the most defensive actions (13) for his team while his passing in deeper areas was often inventive.
Gaël Kakuta, 6 – Again, he struggled to really impose himself on the game, as he did throughout last season, and is starting to really look like a 30-something but he did very little wrong and still threatened in moments. His deft through ball put Kalimuendo away and eventually resulted in the opener.
Arnaud Kalimuendo, 5
Others: Ganago 5, Costa 5, Frankowksi 5.
LYON – 1 (Kadewere 44)
Anthony Lopes, 6
Léo Dubois, 5
Castello Lukeba, 5 – Excellent of late but is still hugely inexperienced and could have been more aware for the goal as his unchallenged nothing header put Ndombele in trouble and directly led to the counter for 1-0. He grew into the game, however, and enjoyed an assured and resolute second half.
Thiago Mendes, 3 – He was fortunate to get away with a few shaky moments in an unusual centre-back role, one sliced clearance resulted in a goal ruled out by VAR after the ball luckily struck Fofana’s hand.
Emerson Palmieri, 6
Tanguy Ndombele, 5
Maxence Caqueret, 7 – He was picked off on occasion, especially before the break, but some of his silky dribbling and intelligent, snappy passing was glorious and he was central to propelling OL forward. Marco Verratti comparisons are becoming more justified by the game.
Romain Faivre, 5
Lucas Paquetá, 4
Karl Toko Ekambi, 6 – Only intermittently a force in the game but it was his dipping cross that set up the goal for Kadewere and his quick feet that nearly created a second out of nothing just after halftime. Lyon missed his directness and power running during his AFCON sojourn.
Tino Kadewere, 6 – The Zimbabwe international was quiet generally as he struggled to find consistent space but it was his smart run and deft volley finish that equalised for OL while a clever flick to put Paquetá in on goal could, maybe should, have won the game late on.
Others: Gusto 5, Aouar 5.