Sunday, February 28, 2021 at 11:12 PM• Daniel Cabot Kerkdijk

Olympique Lyon has lost points in battle for the national title. On a visit to Olympique Marseille, coach Rudi Garcia’s team did not get further than a draw on Sunday: 1-1. Not only did Lyon fail to catch up with leader Lille OSC, which had lost points against RC Strasbourg (1-1), it also lost second place to Paris Saint-Germain. The reigning champion had won 0-4 against Dijon on Saturday.

A hit by Karl Toko Ekambi broke the spell after twenty minutes of play. After a ball from the right of Lucas Paquetá, he shot the ball from the left side of the penalty area diagonally behind goalkeeper Steve Mandanda: 0-1. Just before half-time, the equalizer appeared on the scoreboard. A shot by Pape Gueye went against Paqueta’s hand, after which the referee pointed to the spot. Arek Milik outwitted goalkeeper Anthony Lopes with a precise bet in the right corner: 1-1.

Lyon had to continue with ten men twenty minutes before the end by a second yellow card for Paquetá, but that did not change the score. Memphis Depay played the entire game. The captain received a yellow card in the final phase, after he got into trouble with Álvaro González.

The draw brings Lyon to 56 points. That’s one less than PSG and three less than Lille. AS Monaco is in fourth place with 55 points.