A double and a click with Lyon for Islam Slimani, the attacker who “does not doubt”?

At Parc OL,

In three selections with the Algerian team in the last two months, Islam Slimani had scored more goals than in the OL jersey, since his arrival in the Rhône in January 2021 (6 against 5). An astonishing stat ‘which says a lot about the difficulties of the top scorer in the history of the Fennecs (38 goals in 78 caps) in getting his Lyon career off the ground for good. Braked by a muscle injury contracted with Algeria in October, the former Leicester striker therefore had the opportunity to finally shine on Thursday, for his fourth tenure under the orders of Peter Bosz.

Facing Sparta Prague in the Europa League, Islam Slimani has long been generous, even precious, as if to serve Xherdan Shaqiri on the first big opportunity of the match (0-0, 8th), but also clumsy in the last gesture. It was also believed that his evening was likely to tip over in the 30th minute. Launched full axis by Shaqiri, he finds himself alone to go quietly to challenge Florin Nita. Facing the Czech goalkeeper, he opts for a flat safety foot, or rather six meters to the side. With his look of a player sometimes borrowed, the ex-darling of Sporting Portugal could then have sunk, in a complex match to unlock.

“I should have dribbled the goalie already”

“When we see the long balls he has always been able to keep, we understand that it was already important for us in the first period, defends Peter Bosz. When you then add his two goals, it’s great. “Because at the hour of play, Islam Slimani was suddenly on fire for three minutes. A shift from Rayan Cherki and the 33-year-old striker tells how he released himself, he who had scored this season only against Brest, in Ligue 1 (1-1 in August).

I didn’t doubt at all. The proof, I succeeded in my second face-to-face meeting. These are things that happen to attackers. You can miss things, you just have to stay focused to do better afterwards. I should have already dribbled the goalie on my first duel. “

Peter Bosz wary of muscle relapse for Slimani

Islam Slimani learned the lesson, and confidence turned so bad that he followed up, in the 63rd minute, with a nice smashed header, out of reach of Florin Nita (2-0, 63rd). Preserved just behind by Peter Bosz, who admits “to have been afraid that he will get hurt again”, Islam Slimani gave way to Karl Toko Ekambi, last scorer of the evening (3-0, 90th + 2).

???? Islam Slimani’s first goal well served by Cherki. The Lyon striker eliminates the goal and quietly scores in the empty goal. pic.twitter.com/vtBmXyJa0v

— RMC Sport (@RMCsport) November 4, 2021

A question inevitably comes to mind, while the number one choice of the center-forward coach, Moussa Dembélé, is not yet ready to come back from his fibula injury: this first club double in the Algerian since September 2019 with AS Monaco (2-2 in Strasbourg) will it serve as a trigger?

A playoff scorer, whether at Sporting or Monaco

“It’s been a long time since I played and chained, he recalls. This victory, like the qualification, will do me good and the whole team. We have a rich squad and running all these quality players is not going to change anything for us. I’m here to help the team, by scoring or in some other way. When you have the opportunity to play, you have to give everything for her, that’s what the big clubs are. Islam Slimani, who sees Sunday’s trip (8:45 p.m.) in Ligue 1, to Rennes, “as a turning point”, is in any case a series striker.

With Monaco, between August and October 2019, he had completed 5 goals and 6 assists in 7 games. The same in January 2016 at Sporting, with even 8 goals in 5 games. “I showed that we could count on me,” rightly insisted, Thursday night, the player. If he continues to perform well at the peak, he will allow Lucas Paqueta to return to the heart of the game, where the Brazilian prefers to be. Just for that, this apparently innocuous OL-Sparta (3-0) could have upset the Lyon season.