Three out, including Tagliafico, for OL’s showdown with Fenerbahce
Just a few hours before a match that could already loom large over Lyon’s season, Paulo Fonseca has to work with a depleted squad. For the first leg of their Champions League play-off against Fenerbahce on Tuesday night in Istanbul, Olympique Lyonnais will travel with 23 players. And among the absentees, one name stands out: Nicolas Tagliafico.
The Argentina international was at training on Monday morning and had looked to have a chance of making the trip for this first leg. In the end, though, the full-back will stay behind. He joins Pavel Sulc and Khalis Merah on the list of players missing from the Lyon squad.
Tagliafico trained, but will now stay in Lyon
It was a bit of a surprise. Nicolas Tagliafico did take part in Monday morning’s group session, which suggested he might be available for the European tie. Paulo Fonseca has clearly gone another way.
The Argentina World Cup winner is not in the 23-man squad to face Fenerbahce. That’s a blow for Lyon, losing an experienced head as they walk into one of the most hostile atmospheres in European football.
For Pavel Sulc and Khalis Merah, the situation was more expected. Neither player had trained with the group on the eve of the trip to Istanbul.
OL will therefore be without three men, but they can still call on several recent additions.
Bidstrup and the two defensive signings are on the trip
Paulo Fonseca will notably be able to rely on Mads Bidstrup. The Danish midfielder, back from a knee injury, has recovered enough to return to the squad and give them another option in the middle of the pitch.
There is good news at the back too. The two new signings, Felix Bacher and Zachary Athekame, are both eligible for the tie. Recently arrived in Lyon, the Austrian centre-back and the Swiss full-back can be used straight away in this first leg.
That’s a useful boost for Fonseca, who will have more options in a department that is likely to be stretched by Fenerbahce’s attacks.
Youngsters Noham Kamara and Steeve Kango, meanwhile, are not in the 23-man squad.
A Lyon line-up expected to feature Tolisso as captain
In this context, Paulo Fonseca is expected to go with a side built to cope with Turkish pressure while making the most of the space Fenerbahce leave behind.
Greif should start in goal, behind a defence of Maitland-Niles, Kluivert, Niakhaté and Abner. In midfield, Morton and Tessmann are expected to join Corentin Tolisso, who will wear the armband.
Up front, the danger could come from Nuamah and Fofana out wide, with Openda through the middle.
Probable OL line-up: Greif, Maitland-Niles, Kluivert, Niakhaté, Abner, Morton, Tessmann, Tolisso (cap.), Nuamah, Openda, Fofana.
Istanbul, Lyon’s first major test of the season
The stage should be electric. At 9pm, OL will step into an arena where even a brief lapse can turn nasty in a hurry. Fenerbahce will have the crowd behind them, plenty of pressure to apply and the chance to take control before the return leg.
Lyon will need to dig in. But not just that.
With Openda, Nuamah and Fofana, the French side have weapons that can hurt teams on the break. The plan will probably be to let Fenerbahce come on before picking them apart in the space they leave behind.
Without Tagliafico, Fonseca will have to find the right balance. With Tolisso leading the side and several new arrivals already available, OL still have enough options not to spend the night just trying to survive.
The first act takes place in Istanbul. And in these kinds of games, playing well is not enough. You have to show up when the stadium starts roaring.
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