LOSC’s Berke Özer Out for Lyon Match, Arnaud Bodart Takes Over

Lille, France – LOSC‘s coach Bruno Genesio confirmed on Saturday that goalkeeper Berke Özer will not play against Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday due to a thigh injury.

Özer, who recently joined the team from Eyüpspor for around 5 million euros, was expected to step up after the departures of Vito Mannone and Lucas Chevalier earlier this summer. After just three days at LOSC, he started a match against Brest and has since made six consecutive appearances.

“The decision to start Berke despite his late arrival was to give him confidence in his new role,” Genesio explained. “His initial performances have been positive, but being a goalkeeper at LOSC carries different expectations compared to other clubs.”

Özer’s absence adds to a lengthy injury list for the team, which has already lost defenders Alexsandro, Benjamin André, and Romain Perraud to injuries this season.

Explaining the situation in his press conference, Genesio said, “Berke felt pain in his thigh on Friday. Morning examinations showed a psoas lesion, posing a risk of longer-term absence if he played. We’ve decided to rest him for this match and will assess his status for future games.”

In Özer’s place, 27-year-old Arnaud Bodart will take goalkeeping duties. He impressed during the summer preparations and was noted for a remarkable save against West Ham in a pre-season match.

Genesio expressed confidence in Bodart, stating, “He has trained well since June and is ready to meet the team’s expectations. I’ve discussed his role with him and expect him to perform in crucial situations like Sunday’s match against Lyon.”

Bodart’s upcoming official debut for LOSC will be closely watched, especially since Özer is diligently learning French and is likely to evaluate his teammate’s performance from the sidelines.