PLAYER RATINGS | Lyon 2-3 Paris Saint-Germain: League leaders go 13 points clear | OneFootball

As was the case when the two sides met in December, the prevailing storyline in the build-up to Paris Saint-Germain’s Sunday-night clash in Lyon mainly concerned the boardroom rather than on-pitch events. Tensions between the clubs’ respective presidents were brought to the fore again last week, after the contents of a confrontational meeting from last summer over the league’s choice of broadcaster were revealed by both L’Équipe and France 2’s Complément d’Enquête.

Lyon’s John Textor went on to reiterate his criticisms of Parisian countepart Nasser Al-Khelaifi in a set of interviews a few days ago.  The American businessman, in response to being labelled a “cowboy from who knows where” in the aforementioned call (in which he himself referred to Al-Khelaifi as a “bully”), would arrive for Sunday’s match wearing a cowboy hat, to the delight of the Lyon faithful when he appeared pitchside.

The hosts were ostensibly back in the race for a Champions League spot, with new head coach Paulo Fonseca leading Les Gones to emphatic  four-goal victories over Reims and then Montpellier. Whether their mid-campaign revival would provide enough momentum to trouble the runaway league leaders — who bulldozed their way past Brest into the Champions League last 16 a few days ago — would be another matter, though.

Luis Enrique’s men duly dominated proceedings in the opening exchanges. The first clear-cut chance, past the ten-minute mark, would see Ousmande Dembélé sent through on goal, before the French international made the most of Lucas Perri’s slip to round the Brazilian goalkeeper. The shot would be blocked on the line by Clinton Mata, who somewhat painfully slid into the post in the process.

Les Gones would scarcely venture into the their opponents’ half, although one move on the half-hour mark did see Saël Kumbedi test Gianluigi Donnarumma from a tight angle, after being found on the right by Nemanja Matić. The visitors would launch a counter of their own from the ensuing corner, although Dembélé’s foray into the box would come to nothing.

PSG’s eventual opener at the start of the second half would come soon after a claim for a penalty on the hosts’ part, with Nuamah having been stopped in his tracks whilst bearing down on goal by Nuno Mendes. Former Lyon man Bradley Barcola (again heavily jeered by his former fans tonight) would find Hakimi in the middle of the box with a low cross. The Moroccan, perhaps fortunate to still be on the pitch after kicking Nicolás Tagliafico in the first half, made no mistake with Lucas Perri out of his goal.

The league leaders doubled their lead minutes later. Picking up the ball outside the box, Dembélé meandered his way through a static Lyon defence before finding the top corner, for his 17th league goal of the campaign. Entering the final ten minutes, just as the match appeared to trudge towards an inevitable away win, Rayan Cherki breathed life back into the Groupama Stadium atmosphere. The French youth international, who had been relatively quiet until then, was found in the box by Georges Mikautadze, before halving the deficit with an emphatic finish past Donnarumma.

Their (initial) hopes of a result were short-lived, though, as Hakimi scored his second just over a minute later. This time in a more familiar right-sided position, the Moroccan finished off an impressive team move after dispatching from Kang-in Lee’s through ball.

Not to be disheartened, the hosts would only ramp up the pressure heading into the final five minutes. After Mikautadze and Maitland-Niles drew an impressive double save from Donnarumma, it was Corentin Tolisso’s powerful header that set up a grandstand finish.

The champions did eventually hold out, at the end of an extended period added time after Fabián Ruiz was treated for a knock on his leg. Paulo Fonseca’s men nevertheless turned in a performance which can only add to their renewed belief of a European-spot finish, even if the Portuguese manager’s gamble in starting Cherki as a false nine decidedly backfired. An unbeaten PSG, meanwhile, continue to build up an advantage (now 13 points over Marseille) that allows them to fully focus on their continental campaign.

Paris Saint-Germain player ratings

Gianluigi Donnarumma, 7 – Covered his near post well to deny Kumbedi in the first half, before showing quick reflexes to deny Tessmann from range after the break. The Italian then made a flurry of saves in the closing stages to deny Lyon a memorrable comeback.

Achraf Hakimi, 7

Marquinhos, 6

Lucas Beraldo, 5

Nuno Mendes, 6

Vitinha, 6

João Neves, 6

Désiré Doué, 5

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, 7 – The Georgian was the most proactive of PSG’s forwards — he came close in the first half after a slaloming run from the left wing, and forced Perri into another save with an effort from the edge of the box seconds after the restart. Assisted Dembélé’s goal with a neat flick before the Frenchman’s solo run. Replaced by Lucas Hernandez midway thrrough the second half.

Ousmane Dembélé, 6 – The 27-year-old was not necessarily as active on the ball as we’ve been accustomed to since the turn of the year, but he did take his tally for 2025 to 16 goals in all competitions with a solo effort on the hour mark. Replaced by Gonçalo Ramos with 15 minutes to go.

Bradley Barcola, 6

Selected Lyon player ratings

Lucas Perri, 5

Clinton Mata, 6

Corentin Tolisso, 6 – The World Cup winner continued his impressive form with an all-action display in midfield, breaking down several PSG attacks and affording his under-pressure defence some respite. Headed in the second of Lyon’s goals in stoppage-time.

Ernest Nuamah, 5

Rayan Cherki, 4 – An uncharacteristically clumsy performance from the 21-year-old, who was deployed as a false nine to little effect. Could have done more to close down Dembélé for PSG’s second goal, although he did redeem himself with a well-taken goal which inspired hopes of a late comeback.

Malick Fofana, 5

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin – reporting from the Groupama Stadium, Décines-Charpieu