PLAYER RATINGS | Lyon 4-1 Rennes: OL’s impressive first half performance strengthens Champions League claims | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 31, 26/04/25

After a dissapointing week with defeats against Saint-Étienne (2-1) and Manchester United (5-4), OL returned to winning ways thanks to an impressive first half display. Les Gones now sit in 4th above Nice and Strasbourg on goal difference.

The match

Les Gones got the start they were looking for as they opened the scoring in the first ten minutes. Malick Fofana did brilliantly to cut in from the left flank and create space for himself, before curling his effort home via the crossbar.

Lacazette should have doubled the home side’s lead as he escaped in behind but after beating Brassier he couldn’t find the back of the net. With Lyon taking control of the game, Tolisso made their domination count with his side’s second goal of the game. After some positive work from Maitland-Niles, the French midfielder applied a first-time finish to curl the ball inside the post from distance.

Before half-time, Lyon continue the onslaught and score a third. Séko Fofana released the ball in midfield allowing Almada to burst into space and find Lacazette who applied an emphatic finish into the roof of the net.

Rennes found respite in the early minutes of the second half thanks to a mistake from Thiago Almada. The Argentinian found himself under pressure and played a lofted ball into his own box which found second half substitute Mohamed Meïté who tapped the ball home.

Lacazette believed he had responded perfectly and restored Lyon’s 3-goal lead, only for the offside flag to cut his celebrations short. Fofana also had a goal disallowed in the second half. Rennes were much improved in the second half and this was almost rewarded through Ludovic Blas, but Perri denied the midfielder’s effort from distance.

After two disallowed goals, Mikautadze restored Lyon’s three-goal lead from the bench. Cherki did brilliantly with some intricate link up play, before the Georgian international teed him self up for an acrobatic finish. Soon after, he would have the third disallowed goal of the night.

Mikautadze almost had a second after he had the freedom of the penalty area following a good cross, but Samba was able to deny him. Abner was unable to follow-up on the rebound.

Lyon player ratings:

Lucas Perri – 5

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 7

Clinton Mata – 6

Moussa Niakhaté – 6

Nicolás Tagliafico – 5

Corentin Tolisso – 7

Nemanja Matić – 6

Rayan Cherki – 7

Thiago Almada – 7

Receiving the ball in central areas, the World Cup winner continuously sliced through the Rennes midfield and launched counter attacks in the first half. He was vital creatively with two assist to boot. However, some of his good work came undone in the second half with a catastrophic error with a poor pass in his own penalty area.

Malick Fofana – 7

Consistently exploiting gaps in the Rennes’ defence, his exceptional dribbling skills and speed posed a significant challenge for Assignon, resulting in his well-taken goal opened the scoring. The Belgian proved pivotal in ball progression and providing a threat for Les Gones on the counter.

Alexandre Lacazette – 6

Rennes player ratings:

Brice Samba – 5

Lorenz Assignon – 3

Pushing forward into advanced positions, the former Burnley loanee was often caught out of position leaving space in behind for Fofana and Lacazette to capitalise. Forced to track back when out of place, the home side were able to consistently get in behind the full back.

Anthony Rouault – 5

Jérémy Jacquet – 4

Lilian Brassier – 3

Adrien Truffert – 3

The left-side of defence proved to be a weakness for Les Rouges et Noirs. Similarly to Assignon on the opposite flank, Truffert tried to push forward, often leaving Brassier in the lurch who struggled to deal with through balls played into the left channel.

Azor Matusiwa – 5

Séko Fofana – 3

Djaoui Cissé – 5

Arnaud Kalimuendo – 4

Mousa Al-Tamari – 4

GFFN | Liam Wraith