Olympique Lyonnais is staring down a tough week, with star striker Loïs Openda expected to miss their Europa League home match against Crystal Palace next Thursday. This isn’t just a minor setback, folks; this could sting.
The Injury Scoop, And Why It’s More Than It Seems
So, here’s the deal: Openda, who’s only 26, got tangled up with Lens defender Ismaëlo Ganiou (21) last Friday. It was a collision that left him with a right leg injury, forcing him off the pitch in the 60th minute. And yeah, he was seen leaving the stadium on crutches. When you hear that, your mind immediately jumps to the worst, right? Initial fears were definitely up there. But here’s the twist: further tests have reportedly ruled out any *serious* injury. Phew, right? Not so fast.
Missing In Action: Two Critical Matches For OL
Even with the “no serious injury” update, Openda’s not going to be available for the Crystal Palace clash. And it gets worse: all signs point to him missing the Ligue 1 fixture against OGC Nice next Sunday as well. For Paulo Fonseca, Lyon’s coach, this is a major blow. This dude isn’t just a bench warmer; Openda, who’s on loan from Juventus, has started every single one of his 10 appearances for OL this season. He’s already bagged two goals and dished out one assist. When your go-to guy, your consistent starter, is suddenly out for two huge games, you feel that impact.
Lyon’s going to have to dig deep and find a way to navigate these crucial Europa League and Ligue 1 fixtures without their key striker. They’ll be itching to get Openda back on the field, but for now, the squad will need to step up big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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