“This could be my last derby” – The emergency of the palpable derby Saint-Étienne-OL

Décines (Ain) – Alexandre Lacazette, captain of the Olympique Lyonnais, mentioned the possibility of this being his last derby. At a press conference on Saturday 19 April, the 33-year-old attacker acknowledged: It could be my last derby, but it’s true that I’m on the end of my career. This Sunday, OL goes to Geoffroy-Guichard to face the ASSE in a crucial game for the maintenance.

The atmosphere in Decines was particularly intense. The two thousand OL supporters were given only a quarter hour of training, but enough to remind the importance of this derby.

A contrasting atmosphere at Geoffroy-Guichard

In Geoffroy-Guichard, welcoming the fans of the ASSE was warmer, with a training session open to the public. Seven thousand Stéphanois took a stand, testifying to the importance of this match for regional pride and the struggle for maintenance.

Eirik Horneland, coach of the ASSE, stressed the impact of this presence: It’ll give the team a soul supplement.

The soul of Saint-Étienne: unwavering support

The feeling was shared by the fans of the game, who clearly played their part as they approached the game. It’s the soul of the club. Today (Saturday), we saw the soul of St. Stephen, said Eirik Horneland.

The atmosphere in Geoffroy-Guichard was marked by songs hostile to OL, illustrating the passion and urgency of this rivalry. To change the course of the season, make them regret being Lyon.

A crucial support for Paulo Fonseca

The coach of the OL, Paulo Fonseca, expressed his gratitude to the supporters: “I am very pleased with him (Alexandre Lacazette). He’s a very important player for us.

The rivalry between OL and ASSE remains, despite developments, a central element of the identity of the two clubs.