Olympique Lyonnais takes on Real Sociedad in the Europa League, for its first without Paulo Fonseca

This time, Olympique Lyonnais did not make it through. Author of a non-match during its last European outing at Hoffenheim (0-3), Lyon found color on the pitch of Real Sociedad, Thursday, November 5, during the 4th day of the Europa League regular season. In the den of the Basques, at the Anoeta stadium, the Gones fought a bitter duel against Sociedad, to bring back a precious point for the Basque Country (1-1). In the standings, OL remain in contact with the top 8, with seven points on the clock.

An outcome that Olympique Lyonnais owes largely to its captain, Corentin Tolisso. Essential in the locker room in recent hours, after the departure of coach Paulo Fonseca to Sporting Portugal, the 2018 world champion put his team back in the game with a superb sequence of cushioned chest shots, volleyed with the flat of the foot, upon returning from the locker room (1-1, 54th). Worthy of a professional striker, this goal rewarded Lyon's good sequence after the break, while Real Sociedad opened the scoring in the first period with a header from Orri Stein Oskarsson (1-0, 28th), too easily found in the Lyon area.

Tolisso, exemplary captain

At the end of the match, Corentin Tolisso almost put on the hero's costume for good, by placing a header from a free kick, leaving Unai Marrero (90+1). Lyon's best opportunity of the second act, while Dominik Greif kept his team in the match, notably by diverting a powerful strike from Mikel Oyarzabal (60th). If the Basques created the best chances, the final result was nothing like a robbery for OL, who held on for the duration in an intense, sometimes choppy, and lively encounter.

Normally, picking up a point on the pitch in the 5th in Liga is already a good operation, but even more so after the eventful start of the week for OL, who lost their coach Paulo Fonseca, who left for Sporting Portugal. While waiting to know his replacement, it is his former assistant Jorge Maciel who occupies the bench until the international break, with a trip to Brest on Sunday, in Ligue 1. In the Europa League, the Lyonnais now have an appointment with Lillestrom, at Groupama Stadium, on November 26.