Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 33, 10/05/25
AS Monaco beat Olympique Lyonnais (2-0) to mathematically secure qualification in next season’s UEFA Champions League with rivals elsewhere slipping up.
Lyon were a club on the precipice of the abyss and divided at the time of kick-off. The consequences of the failure to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League were heavy. In that context, owner John Textor was booed by the travelling Lyon fans as he made his way to his seat and a banner in protest of the American was unveiled in the away end.
However, it was OL who began the brightest and Philipp Köhn who was the most solicited goalkeeper in the opening 45 minutes. He denied Alexandre Lacazette spectacularly and Malick Fofana, tipping both well-struck efforts around the post. Lucas Perri had a quieter half but did well to close down the space and deny Takumi Minamino, who had been slipped through by Breel Embolo.
It was a game which, despite what was at stake, especially for OL, had not sparked into life. It was a slow start to the second half too, but the malaise was broken by Takumi Minamino’s finish. It came from a poorly worked free-kick from Nemanja Matić. Monaco pounced with Maghnes Akliouche putting Monaco on the front foot, passing to Minamino, who unchallenged, made his way into Lyon box and applied the finish.
The lead was doubled six minutes later as captain Denis Zakaria flicked Lamine Camara’s cross into the far corner. OL looked defeated and failed to rouse a response. Köhn was not tested again and Monaco were happy to simply manage the game and search for a third.
Their place in next season’s Champions League was confirmed thanks to losses for OGC Nice, Lille OSC, and RC Strasbourg Alsace. Monaco will once again finish on the podium. Lyon’s destiny is out of their hands and they must hope for three other results to go their way if they are to qualify for the Champions League.
Philipp Köhn – 7
He had little to do in the second half but he was valuable in the first, pulling off two big saves from Lacazette and Fofana to keep the scores level. He has justified Adi Hütter’s decision to reinstate him at Radoslaw Majecki’s expense.
Caio Henrique – 5
Thilo Kehrer – 5
Wilfried Singo – 6
Jordan Teze – 6
Takumi Minamino – 6
Denis Zakaria – 7
Lamine Camara – 7
Combative out of possession, he kept things ticking in possession and dropped deep to allow Monaco to build out and gain a foothold in the first half. His delivery for Zakaria’s goal was sumptuous and befitting of a Champions League qualification.
Maghnes Akliouche – 5
Mika Biereth – 5
Breel Embolo – 5
Lucas Perri – 5
Nicolás Tagliafico – 5
Moussa Niakhaté – 3
Clinton Mata – N/A
Replaced by Duje Caleta-Car (4) in the 21st minute.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 5
Malick Fofana – 6
Tanner Tessmann – 5
Nemanja Matić – 3
He was at fault for Monaco’s opener, the turning point of the match. His poorly taken free-kick allowed for the transition that led to Minamino’s goal. He was hooked not long after, walking straight to the dressing room.
Jordan Veretout – 6
Thiago Almada – 6
The Argentine was excellent in the first half, wriggling out of tight spaces, dropping in and knitting the play and helping Lyon get on the front foot. His influence waned significantly in the second half as OL collectively struggled to match the Principality club.
Alexandre Lacazette – 5
