PLAYER RATINGS | Young Boys 0-1 Lyon: Ainsley Maitland-Niles keeps OL on top in the Europa League | OneFootball

UEFA Europa League, Matchday 7, 22/01/26

Lyon secured another three points in the league phase of the UEFA Europa League, thanks to a first half goal from Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Les Gones are now guaranteed a spot in the RO16 stage of the competition.

The match

Tanner Tessmann had the first chance of the game with a header. Moreira delivered a good cross into the area, which the American international midfielder met well, but he failed to direct his header on target. This was the highlight of an otherwise uneventful opening 15 minutes despite both sides playing with a positive mentality. 

Rémy Descamps was responsible for the next big moment in the game, and it wasn’t for the right reasons. Playing out from his own goal, the French goalkeeper found a player in yellow, and the ball found its way to Alvin Sanches via Sérgio Cordova. With the freedom of the Lyon penalty area, Sanches’ effort crashed against the crossbar, leaving Les Gones and especially Descamps breathing a sigh of relief. 

Cutting inside from the left flank, Moreira almost found the opening goal of the game. The Portuguese youth international fired an effort from distance which looked destined for the bottom corner, but Keller produced a great save to turn it around the post. Before the half was over, the Young Boys stopper was in the spotlight again, but this time for the wrong reasons. 

Šulc did well to evade his marker and get to the byline, but his cross was fired straight towards Keller. The goalkeeper palmed the cross into a dangerous area, and Maitland-Niles made the most of the opportunity by lasering an effort into the roof of the net with conviction to give Lyon a deserved lead on the stroke of halftime. 

The match was slow to kick into life in the second half, but on the hour mark, Sanches found the back of the net for the hosts and levelled the game, or so he thought. However, the goal was disallowed for offside due to Sérgio Cordova obstructing Maitland-Niles – a let off for OL. Young Boys were the better team in the second half.  Montero, a second-half substitute, put Descamps under pressure again, as Maitland-Niles was forced to play an awkward backpass to his goalkeeper following a dangerous cross. 

Former Lille forward Alain Virginius then got involved in the action after a clever flick from Montero allowed the attacker to escape in behind. The Frenchman managed to get his shot away and caused panic as he hit the post with the aid of a deflection. Montero then found Christian Fassnacht at the far post, but the winger couldn’t find the back of the net as the pressure mounted on Lyon. The hosts continued to mount pressure but couldn’t find a way to breach the OL defence. 

Lyon player ratings:

Rémy Descamps – 4

The Frenchman found himself in too many difficult positions on the night. With two mistakes, one playing out of the back and another with a parry into a dangerous area, his night could have been much worse if Young Boys were more clinical in front of goal.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 6

Clinton Mata – 5

Ruben Kluivert – 5

Nicolás Tagliafico – 5

Khalis Merah – 5

Tyler Morton – 5

Tanner Tessmann – 6

Adam Karabec – 5

Pavel Šulc – 5

Afonso Moreira – 6

Playing on the left, the forward offered a continuous threat throughout the night. Whether it be getting the better of his marker or drifting into central areas, the former Sporting attacker always found a way to be involved. If it wasn’t for an impressive save from Keller, he could have easily scored on the night. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith