An impressive rookie, a disappointing midfielder… The Tops and Flops of Toulouse-OL

Despite a fine performance from Toulouse, OL won their third success in a row tonight (1-2) in Ligue 1 and can still believe in Europe. If Jeffinho shone, the Gones midfielder distinguished himself by a certain neutrality. Here are the Tops and Flops of this first meeting of the 31st day of Ligue 1.

The Jeffinho revelation

Recruited during the winter transfer window from Botafogo, Jeffinho experienced his first tenure this evening with Olympique Lyonnais. And the wait was definitely worth it. The Brazilian was indeed in all the right moves. Quite discreet at first, the Lyon striker then stood out with a superb breakthrough in the Toulouse defense concluded by a shot captured (18th) by the opposing goalkeeper. A few minutes later, it is still after a nice rush that the 23-year-old is this time going for a penalty by provoking the fault of Gabriel Suazo (33rd). More generally, Jeffinho brings a lot thanks to his bursts of speed in the heart of a team which lacked a lot of movement during its last meetings. His second half was more discreet. He could still be one of the key men at the end of the season if this encouraging performance is confirmed.

It’s quite rare but Jeffinho is exactly what we were sold.

An exciting dribbler who will fall on his own after having dribbled past 3 guys.

We’re going to love him at the stadium and tear our hair out too.

— Incognitouf (@Incognitouf3) April 14, 2023

Good for Cherki

Very rightly criticized during his last performances, Rayan Cherki showed a much more beautiful face on the lawn of the Stadium. If we can regret some bad choices like this ball not transmitted to a completely unmarked Lacazette (4th), the young Lyonnais gave a lot during this meeting and was very available (82 balls touched and 3 opportunities created). He is still the number 1 detonator of the Rhone team and can create the difference at any time as on this almost decisive pass for Alexandre Lacazette (89th). Always able to rely on remarkable technical quality, the 19-year-old regularly made the defense of Téfécé dizzy (8 successful dribbles).

lopes encore vigilant

Author of four saves, the Portuguese goalkeeper avoided the worst for his team when it suffered the onslaught of the Violets. Without releasing the greatest performance of his career, Anthony Lopes rose to the occasion. He was well helped by a Dejan Lovren who was still as efficient in his interventions.

Lyon finally continues and can still dream

By having the TFC, OL acquired their third success in a row this evening after the victories against Rennes (3-1) and Paris (0-1). Note that this is the first time this season that the Gones have managed to achieve a series of three straight wins. Without being brilliant, the Gones have put the ingredients to get the three points. We must particularly emphasize this very energetic start to the match, full of good intentions. After 31 days in Ligue 1, OL are therefore sixth in the championship pending the matches of their competitors. Europe seems achievable provided all the same that this good dynamic continues.

Téfécé can be proud

If the defeat is there, the Violets have nothing to be ashamed of their performance. As usual, Philippe Montanier’s men did not hide and offered attractive football and turned towards the opposing goal. Toulouse would undoubtedly have deserved the point of the draw at the end of this rather balanced meeting. See you now in fifteen days for a final of the Coupe de France which promises to be boiling.

Sport The Flops of Toulouse-OL

Caqueret/Lepenant: a disappointing duo

If we can sometimes regret the lack of lucidity of Rayan Cherki, the latter has at least the merit of creating differences. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of his midfield friends. Johann Lepenant and Maxence Caqueret have thus made a copy of the most neutral. The observation is particularly true for the former Caennais who has shown very little to his advantage on the Toulouse lawn. The analysis is somewhat the same for Maxence Caqueret. His second half is certainly much better than the first, but much more is expected of a player who is no longer just a hope. It should also be noted that the 23-year-old midfielder must work on his physical impact. He is thus severely moved on the Toulouse equalizer by Aboukhlal.

We went from one of the best midfielders in L1 and one of the hottest midfielders to a Mendes Lepenant Tolisso Caqueret midfielder in the space of a summer…
It’s eye-popping. https://t.co/mS68GeJwN4

— Remus (@Remus313) April 14, 2023

Suazo in sick

The Chilean defender is unfortunately in all the bad luck tonight. He first causes a penalty in the first period after suffering the explosive dribbling of Jeffinho. At the very end of the evening, he was still behind Les Gones’ second goal since his bad transmission was intercepted by Rayan Cherki. We can regret these two big mistakes because the rest of his performance was rather interesting. Football, however, is played in the details.