Lyon’s Winless Streak Continues as Paulo Fonseca Watches On
Lyon failed to break their five-match winless run in the UEFA Europa League, settling for a 1-1 draw against Ludogorets at Groupama Stadium on Matchday 8. Despite new head coach Paulo Fonseca watching from the stands, Les Gones struggled to secure all three points but still managed to book their place in the Round of 16.
📌 Match Recap: A Frustrating Night for Lyon
Lyon entered the match with the opportunity to confirm their place in the knockout rounds. However, their lack of cutting edge in front of goal and defensive frailties allowed Ludogorets to come away with a hard-fought draw.
⏳ First Half: Lyon Dominates Possession but Struggles to Break Through
- Early Pressure: Lyon started on the front foot, with Rayan Cherki quickly testing the Bulgarian defense, but his shot was blocked at the last moment.
- Ludogorets’ Close Call: The visitors almost took an early lead when Rwan Cruz’s clever flick was deflected just wide.
- Tolisso’s Near Miss: The midfielder came close to opening the scoring with a powerful header, only for Sergio Padt to pull off an excellent save.
- Nuamah Denied: Lyon continued to press, but Padt was once again up to the challenge, denying Ernest Nuamah’s well-placed effort.
⚽ 54′ Goal – Corentin Tolisso (Lyon 1-0 Ludogorets)
- Ludogorets gave away possession cheaply inside their own box, allowing Georges Mikautadze to pounce.
- The Lyon forward drew the goalkeeper out before cutting it back to Tolisso, who slotted home from close range.
⚽ 74′ Goal – Dinis Almeida (Lyon 1-1 Ludogorets)
- Ludogorets responded well and caught Lyon’s defense off guard.
- Almeida started the attack from deep, continued his run unmarked, and finished a well-timed cross at the near post.
⏳ Late Drama: Perri Saves Lyon From Defeat
- 90+2′ Close Call: Ludogorets almost snatched a winner in stoppage time when Camara’s diving header forced Lucas Perri into a brilliant reflex save.
- Despite their late efforts, Lyon failed to grab a winner, extending their winless run to six matches.
📊 Lyon Player Ratings & Analysis
⭐ Standout Performer
- Rayan Cherki (7/10) – Lyon’s Most Influential Attacker
- The 21-year-old playmaker was Lyon’s biggest creative threat, constantly dropping deep to link up play.
- Created multiple chances and was unlucky not to score.
😕 Underwhelming Performances
- Abner Vinicius (4/10) – Defensively Vulnerable
- Struggled to contain Ludogorets’ wide attacks and was caught out of position multiple times.
| Player | Rating | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Lucas Perri | 6 | Made crucial saves, especially late on, but couldn’t prevent the equalizer. |
| Ainsley Maitland-Niles | 5 | Decent defensively but lacked attacking contributions. |
| Duje Ćaleta-Car | 6 | Solid presence but struggled against Ludogorets’ pace in transition. |
| Moussa Niakhaté | 5 | Made key tackles but failed to track Almeida for the equalizer. |
| Abner Vinicius | 4 | Weak defensive positioning, often exposed on the left side. |
| Tanner Tessmann | 5 | Provided energy in midfield but lacked precision in passing. |
| Corentin Tolisso | 6 | Scored Lyon’s goal but faded in the second half. |
| Rayan Cherki | 7 ⭐ | Lyon’s creative spark, created chances and linked midfield to attack. |
| Ernest Nuamah | 6 | Was a threat but denied by an excellent goalkeeping performance. |
| Georges Mikautadze | 6 | Assisted Tolisso’s goal but missed a big chance to score. |
| Gaëtan Laborde | 4 | Made a costly error leading to the Ludogorets goal. |
📊 Match Statistics
| Stat | Lyon | Ludogorets |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 60% | 40% |
| Shots (on target) | 12 (4) | 8 (3) |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.27 | 0.84 |
| Pass Accuracy | 85% | 79% |
| Corners | 6 | 3 |
| Fouls Committed | 12 | 9 |
Lyon dominated possession and chances but failed to convert their superiority into three points.
📉 What Went Wrong for Lyon?
1️⃣ Lack of Clinical Finishing – Despite creating 12 shots, Lyon struggled to convert their chances into goals.
2️⃣ Defensive Lapses – Almeida’s equalizer exposed Lyon’s poor defensive tracking, as he was left unmarked inside the box.
3️⃣ Game Management Issues – Lyon failed to control the game after taking the lead, allowing Ludogorets to regain confidence and attack.
🗣️ Manager Reaction: Paulo Fonseca (New Lyon Head Coach)
“It’s frustrating to not get the win, especially at home. We created good chances but lacked sharpness in key moments. There’s a lot of work to do before the knockout rounds, and we must improve defensively.”
📌 What’s Next for Lyon?
Despite failing to win, Lyon have secured their place in the Europa League Round of 16. They must regroup and regain form before the next phase.
⚽ Next Match:
🆚 Lyon vs. AS Monaco
📅 February 4, 2025
🏟️ Groupama Stadium
💬 Final Thoughts: Can Lyon Bounce Back in Time for the Knockout Rounds?
Lyon’s winless streak continues, but they are still alive in the Europa League. With Paulo Fonseca now officially in charge, can Les Gones turn things around before the last 16?
🤔 What do you think Lyon needs to improve before the knockout rounds? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! 👇
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