PLAYER RATINGS I Lyon 1-2 Monaco: Akliouche on fire as Monaco secure a princely victory over the Lions | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 27, 22/03/2026

The match

There was tension in the air this afternoon at the Groupama Stadium, the venue for a top-of-the-table clash between Olympique Lyonnais and AS Monaco. And it certainly wasn’t a scrappy start to the match, punctuated by fouls, that helped to ease things. As for the football, it took a quarter of an hour for the game to finally get back on track. And it did so in rather impressive fashion.

One after another, Maghnes Akliouche, Endrick, Pavel Šulc and Orel Mangala all tried to strike first. Without much success. Although Lyon were in control, they conceded the first real chance of the match, with Afonso Moreira eventually preventing Jordan Teze from opening the scoring on the half-hour mark.

A wake-up call for OL, who, just before half-time, finally managed to take the lead thanks to a fine run by Endrick and Šulc’s 11th Ligue 1 goal. Corentin Tolisso even thought he had doubled the lead, only for his curling shot to strike the post of Lukas Hradecky’s goal.

Stunned just before half-time, the Monegasques nevertheless used the break to regroup, returning from the dressing room with a clear attacking intent and better-coordinated pressing. On the hour mark, however, it was Endrick who came close to giving Lyon a two-goal lead, before Teze cleared the ball off the line.

Having been decisive in defence, the Dutchman then made his mark in attack, delivering a magnificent lobbed pass to Akliouche, who finished clinically to level the score for ASM. Full of energy, the Frenchman had to wait only a few minutes to make his mark again, winning a penalty which Folarin Balogun stepped up to convert, despite the protests of the Lyon players, who felt aggrieved by a potential earlier foul on Endrick that had gone unpunished.

Having turned the game around, Sébastien Pocognoli’s men held firm, despite a tense finale marked by the sending-off of Nicolás Tagliafico and a final flurry of futile attempts from Lyon.

Lyon player ratings:

Dominik Greif – 7

With six saves to his name, the Slovakian was once again instrumental, despite his team’s defeat.

Hans Hateboer – 4

Clinton Mata – 4

Moussa Niakhaté – 6

Nicolás Tagliafico – 3

Orel Mangala – 5

Corentin Tolisso – 4

Endrick – 6

Although his ball control and some of his decisions were a bit sloppy, the Brazilian once again proved decisive. He did, however, lose possession, leading to Monaco’s second goal, having had the chance to extend the lead just a few minutes earlier.

Khalis Merah – 4

Afonso Moreira – 5

Pavel Šulc – 7

Starting for the first time since returning from injury, the Czech player made a significant impact on the match – and on the opposition’s defenders. As a goalscorer, he proved vital when playing with his back to goal, making numerous runs and dropping deep.

Selected Monado player ratings:

Maghnes Akliouche – 8

Called up by Didier Deschamps for the upcoming international break, the unstoppable Frenchman was one of the standout performers in this clash. He scored the equaliser and also won the penalty that allowed Monaco to take the lead.

Folarin Balogun – 6

Jordan Teze – 7

In all the key moments, the Dutch defender not only provided an assist but also made a crucial clearance. Had it not been for a clearance by Moreira, he might even have opened the scoring in the first half.

GFFN | Léo Aschi