Olympique Lyonnais – Dijon SCO: The Memphis Depay Show (4-1)

In a match eventually dominated by Olympique Lyonnais, Dijon managed to take the lead and sit back, presenting the hosts with the challenge of breaking down a compact defensive block. Lyon manager Rudi Garcia had prepared his team well for this occasion but still needed a penalty and a few moments of genius by Memphis Depay to unlock the game and assert his team’s dominance.
Tactical analysis and match report by Thanos Chelas.

After reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since the 2009/10 season, being almost forced to play with a counterattacking style against teams with more individual quality, there was an important question to answer for Rudi Garcia.

How would he adapt in a Ligue 1 competition in which the percentages of possession would be much higher in the majority of the matches? Would he return to a four man defense formation or adapt his 5-3-2 shape to the demands of each match?

With Houssem Aouar unavailable after being tested positive for Covid-19, Garcia opted to inverse the shape of his midfield, in comparison to the European competition matches, and present his team in a 3-4-1-2 formation.  

In front of an unchanged defensive trio sat the young duo of Bruno Guimarães and Maxence Caqueret with Memphis Depay roaming in more advanced positions and behind the striker duo of Moussa Dembélé and Karl Toko Ekambi. Léo Dubois and Maxwell Cornet were the wing-back duo.

Stéphane Jobard on the other side chose a 4-4-1-1 formation for his team with the wingers Eric Edimbe and Romain Amalfitano responsible for supporting the striker . . .