Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 23, 22/02/26
Strasbourg deservedly put an end to Lyon’s 13-game winning streak with one of their finest team performances this season. Martial Godo and Diego Moreira gave the hosts a two-goal lead. Corentin Tolisso halved the deficit in the second half, but Joaquin Panichelli restored the Alsatians’ cushion.
From the start, Strasbourg made their intention of ending Lyon’s 13-game winning streak very clear. Gary O’Neil’s Alsatians needed a result to catch up with the pack of Ligue 1 teams chasing European football next season after a 3-game winless run.
Martial Godo lacked composure in skying a rebound after Dominik Greif initially saved from Joaquin Panichelli. Worryingly for Paulo Fonseca, the Slovakian goalkeeper was Lyon’s best player in the opening exchanges, and OL’s problems deepened with the sight of Pavel Sulc limping out of the field.
Lyon were second best in every aspect, and their reliable key players recently – such as Tolisso, Morton or Endrick – were having a hard time against the hosts. The latter deservedly went ahead after the half-hour mark. With a single looping left-footed touch, Diego Moreira found Godo, whose volley fizzed home.
Lyon failed to register a single shot on target in the first half, and Strasbourg pounced to double their lead. Greif had just saved again from Diego Moreira, but Lyon’s last stand was powerless to prevent the winger’s heavily-deflected effort from going in.
Corentin Tolisso halved the deficit after the hour mark, on Lyon’s first shot on target. But it never felt like Les Gones would grab anything but a loss against a Strasbourg side this intense and clinical in the final third. Clinton Mata had no choice but to foul the brilliant Samir El Mourabet in Lyon’s box. Joaquin Panichelli stepped up to restore Strasbourg’s two-goal cushion.
Lyon missed the opportunity to go eight points clear of fourth-placed Marseille – their opponents next week – whereas Strasbourg climbed up to seventh place.
Dominik Greif – 6
Ruben Kluivert – 5
Moussa Niakhaté – 4
Clinton Mata – 3
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 4
Corentin Tolisso – 5
Tyler Morton – 4
Tanner Tessmann – 3
The USMNT midfielder embodied Lyon’s struggles to match their opponents’ pressing and intensity in the engine room. Dispossessed countless times, involved in Strasbourg’s second goal and hooked before the hour mark.
Vinicius Abner – 4
Pavel Sulc – N/A
Injured early on and replaced by Noah Nartey (4) who, like Lyon’s danger men up front, made no difference.
Endrick – 4
The Real Madrid loanee had a frustrating night to say the least. Diego Moreira and Ben Chilwell often got the better of him, and his attacking output was minimal.
Ben Chilwell – 7
Diego Moreira – 8
The winger only featured nine times for Lyon two seasons ago as a Chelsea loanee. This time, he made sure Les Gones would not forget him with a man of the match performance, capped with two goals involvement and a tireless shift. Went off to a standing ovation.
Martial Godo – 6
The former Fulham winger is Strasbourg’s in-form man this season. He bagged his seventh goal in his last eight games, and he even could have had a hat-trick alone in the first half.
