PLAYER RATINGS | Lyon 2-1 Lille: Les Gones seize advantage in the hunt for European football | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 28, 05/04/25

Lyon seized an advantage in the hunt for European football despite an early setback. Goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Rayan Cherki saw Les Gones secure three points against Lille.

The Match

With the first corner of the game, Lille were provided with the dream start. Benjamin André headed the ball back across the six-yard box following a corner, and Bafodé Diakité was in the perfect position to head home beyond Perri and give his side the lead.

Diakité went close to doubling his tally and his side’s lead from another corner, but his header was narrowly wide of the post. As the visitors began to look comfortable, a VAR intervention affected the balance of the match. Thomas Meunier was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area, and a penalty was awarded to the hosts after a review.

Alexandre Lacazette stepped up from 12 yards and did brilliantly to convert his penalty with a stuttering run-up, sending Chevalier the wrong way to level the match. Almada almost gave his side the lead after a rash decision from Chevalier saw him rush out into no man’s land, but the Argentine’s speculative effort couldn’t capitalise on the situation.

Both teams started the second half looking for a winner with the score level at the break, but neither team showed real conviction or intention to take control of the match during the 15 minutes after half-time. Matias Fernandez-Pardo had the first real chance of the second half as he raced through one-on-one with Perri, but the Brazilian stopper was able to stop an attempted dink with his forehead.

Rayan Cherki would score the third goal of the game. The first-half substitute did brilliantly to control Tolisso’s flick-on and half-volleyed the ball beyond Chevalier to give his boyhood club the lead. Thiago Almada should have made it 3-1 late on as Mikautadze cut the ball back to him, but his effort was straight at Chevalier.

Lyon player ratings:

Lucas Perri –  5

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 5

Clinton Mata – 5

Moussa Niakhaté – 5

Nicolás Tagliafico – 6

Tanner Tessmann – 4

Nemanja Matić – 6

A calming presence in defence for Lyon, the former Serbian international midfielder was vital for Les Gones during long periods of the game were they were forced to suffer without the ball. The 37-year-old’s experience showed with his ability to play out with ease under pressure.

Ernest Nuamah – N/A

Replaced by (6′) Rayan Cherki – 7

Corentin Tolisso – 4

Thiago Almada – 5

Alexandre Laczette – 6

Rayan Cherki – 7

The Frenchman was a difference maker in the second half with his half-volley giving the home team the lead. After being left out from the start, the playmaker made his mark and proved a point to Paulo Fonseca after being overlooked for a starting berth.

Lille player ratings:

Lucas Chevalier – 4

Including diving early for Lacazette’s penalty, the French stopper had a couple of difficult moments, which almost saw Lille punished. A rush of blood to the head on more than one occasion saw Chevalier in awkward situations.

Thomas Meunier – 4

Bafodé Diakité – 7

Normally depended on for his aerial presence in his own box, the Frenchman proved to be a real aerial threat in the Lyon box. Managing to escape his man in the opening minute to give Les Dogues the lead after 47 seconds, the centre back almost had a brace with a very similar opportunity later in the first half. He also produced a solid defensive display.

Alexsandro Ribeiro – 6

Gabriel Gundmumdsson – 6

Benjamin André – 6

Andre Gomes – 6

Ngal’ayel Mukau – 5

Hakon Arnar Haraldsson – 6

Johnathan David – 4

Mitchel Bakker – 5

GFFN | Liam Wraith