OL 3-0 Dinamo Zagreb: OL cut loose in maiden Champions League clash at the Parc OL

. HIGHLIGHTS .
13’. Tolisso scores with a header from Rafael's cross. 1-0.
23’. Gonalons heads just over the bar.
32’. Gonalons replaced by Tousart after a knock to the head.
36’. Rybus fires just wide.
49’. Ferri scored with a delightful chip after being played in by Cornet. 2-0.
57’. Cornet converts Tolisso's assist. 3-0
86'. Situm hits the cross-bar.
. SUMMARY.
The European first at the Parc OL will remain etched in the memory. Faced with a raft of injuries, Bruno Genesio decided to eschew the habitual 4-3-3 for a new-look 3-5-1-1 with Tolisso as a number ten behind Cornet. And the Lyonnais didn't take long to start firing on all cylinders, pressing hard and getting forward with dangerous intent. Tolisso converted their dominance by heading home Rafael's cross (13'). Gonalons, Rybus, and Yanga-Mbiwa narrowly missed chances to make it 2-0. Even though OL dipped somewhat at the end of the first half, after Gonalons went off, they were never really worried by the Croatians.
After recharging the batteries at the break, OL stepped it up a notch and ran all over a demoralised Dinamo side. Ferri (49’) and Cornet (57’) widened the gap and brought the stadium to its feet! Despite chances falling for either side, the scoreboard wouldn't change again, with the Parc OL erupting in joy at the final whistle, celebrating a superb start to the Champions League history in the new stadium… historic! By winning 3-0, OL claimed the first three points of their European campaign and made the most of the 0-0 draw between Juventus and Sevilla to take top spot in Group H. The perfect evening!
. LE FAIT DU MATCH .
The switch to 3-5-1-1 pays off
OL has last used this system in a defeat to Gazélec Ajaccio on 20 December, 2015, and it was the first time since season 2012-13 that OL have started with a three-man defence. It's the first time the club have ever won playing in this system, the 2-1 win at Bordeaux having come with OL reverting to a 4-4-2 after the Girondins had opened the scoring. An unfamiliar 3-5-11 for Bruno Genesio's men but they adapted to it perfectly. Rybus and Rafael, fielded a bit higher up on the flanks, had the chance to show all their counter-attacking quality. Just like Tolisso, who really shone in his role as number ten.
. THE STAT .
Corentin Tolisso scored the first-ever Champions League goal at the Parc OL with a superb header. It was the OL number eight's first European goal in 19 appearances, including seven in the Champions League. Tolisso's goal is OL's 37th in continental competition.
Expert Eye
Jérémy Berthod:
"It was the perfect way to start the competition. OL needed to beat Dinamo and establish a solid goal difference. Mission accomplished. We managed to dissipate the doubts that we brought about by consecutive league losses to Dijon and Bordeaux. Tonight, the key to the match was OL's determination. We approached the match with a lot of desire and powerful team spirit. We also adapted very well to the new system and used the ball well going forward. There are many positives from tonight's match, even though the Croats did have a number of chances towards the end. This win should give us a real confidence boost ahead of Sunday's Ligue clash with Marseille."
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. TEAMSHEET . At the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Décines. UCL (Matchday 1, Grup H): OL 3-0 GNK Dinamo (1-0) Referee: Martin Strömbergsson (SWE). Attendance: 45,000. Goals: Tolisso (13'), Ferri (49'), Cornet (57') for OL. Yellow cards: Rafael (84') for OL. Jonas (4'), Pivaric (26'), Fernandes (41') for Dinamo. OL: Lopes - Yanga-Mbiwa, Nkoulou, Morel - Rafael, Rybus - Gonalons (cap.) (Tousart, 32'), Ferri, Darder - Tolisso (Ghezzal, 77') - Cornet (A.Kalulu, 72'). Coach: B. Genesio. GNK: Semper - Stojanovic, Benkovic, Schildenfeld, Pivaric (cap.) - Jonas (Gojak, 84'), Machado (Situm, 68'), Pavicic, Coric (Fiolic, 53') - Soudani, Fernandes. Coach: Z. Kranjcar. |
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