PLAYER RATINGS | Lyon 2-1 Go Ahead Eagles: Les Gones stay at the top of the UEFA Europa League table

UEFA Europa League, Matchday 6, 11/12/25

Lyon retain their place at the top of the UEFA Europa League league phase table with a 2-1 victory against Go Ahead Eagles at the Groupama Stadium. Goals from Afonso Moreira and Pavel Šulc early in the first half secured three points for Les Gones. 

The match

Both teams were quick out of the starting blocks at the Groupama Stadium. Lyon opened the scoring inside three minutes as Tyler Morton was played in behind towards the byline and afforded far too much space to cut the ball back to Moreira in the six-yard box for a simple finish. 

Despite their quick start, the Ligue 1 club weren’t in front for long. Just three minutes after taking the lead, Descamps fizzed a ball into Tolisso, and after a poor touch, the French midfielder put himself under immense pressure. Finding himself dispossessed from behind, the ball found its way to Smit, who finished with relative ease beyond the OL stopper to level proceedings. 

Les Gones’ response was exactly what they needed after conceding a cheap equaliser. Maitland-Niles let fly with a speculative effort from range, which De Busser failed to deal with convincingly. The stopper pushed the ball back into the path of Šulc, and despite his best efforts, he was unable to deny the Czech playmaker from close range as OL regained the lead. Lyon had other opportunities to extend their lead, but with the Eredivisie side remaining resolute at the back, they held a one-goal advantage at the break.

After the break, Tolisso linked up well with Moreira to provide the Portuguese attacker a chance on the edge of the area. He did well to get his shot away, but failed to test De Busser. After a frenetic opening and with Go Ahead Eagles sitting deeper at the start of the second half, Les Gones controlled possession but still struggled to break down the visitors. Ainsley Maitland-Niles found his way into the penalty area with a great run, but with indecision creeping in, the England international lofted the ball over the bar with his left foot. 

The visitors rolled the dice in the final 15 minutes and had three centre-forwards on the pitch as they pushed for an equaliser. OL almost inflicted danger upon themselves when Mata casually chested the ball back to Descamps, but the Lyon stopper was able to gather the loose ball. In the final minutes of the game, Tolisso clattered the post, as Go Ahead Eagles offered more opportunities with their increased focus on attack. Moussa Niakhaté charged forward with Lyon on the counter-attack and saw an effort cleared on the line as the match developed a basketball-like feel in the final minutes. With the final kick of the game, Šulc had another chance one-on-one but put his effort wide as the match ended 2-1, 

Lyon player ratings:

Rémy Descamps – 5

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 6

Clinton Mata – 4

Moussa Niakhaté – 5

Nicolás Tagliafico – 6

Afonso Moreira – 7

Playing in the unfamiliar position of left-wing back, the former Sporting CP player fared well. He didn’t shirk the defensive responsibilities of his role despite his preference to attack. In forward areas, the Portuguese youth international proved to be decisive with a well-taken goal in the first three minutes of the game to open the scoring. 

Tyler Morton – 6

Khalis Merah – 5

Corentin Tolisso – 5 

In an unfamiliar fashion for the Lyon captain, he was punished in the opening stages of the match for a poor touch, which saw him dispossessed and led to the visitors’ equaliser. However, the World Cup winner did not let this mistake faze him; he continued to influence the game in the final third and created a couple of openings.  

Martin Satriano – 5

Pavel Šulc – 6

GFFN | Liam Wraith