LOSC Lille 0-1 Lyon Player Ratings: Greif Rated 8.5/10 as Morton's Header Secures Narrow 1-0 Victory

Olympique Lyonnais ultimately snatched the win through a moment of early brilliance, leaving Stade Pierre-Mauroy with all three points. The decisive moment came just 13 minutes in. Tyler Morton rose highest to powerfully head home a sublime cross from Nicolás Tagliafico, a goal that proved to be the winner in a classic smash-and-grab road performance.

From our perspective, LOSC Lille will feel incredibly hard done by. They relentlessly pushed for an equalizer, creating numerous promising opportunities but found themselves thwarted at every turn. What stood out to us was the colossal performance of Lyon's goalkeeper. Dominik Greif was an absolute fortress, an impenetrable wall between the sticks. He produced critical saves to deny Matías Fernández-Pardo and Ngal'ayel Mukau, preserving his side's slender lead.

The game itself was a feisty, bruising battle. It was clear tensions were high, and the referee's notebook was filled with yellow cards as tackles flew in from both sides. Ultimately, this match was a story of Lyon's clinical edge and their immense defensive resolve. While Lille may have dominated possession and shots, the only statistic that truly matters is the final scoreline.

Here are Lille Vs Lyon Player Ratings

Lyon Player Ratings vs Lille

Here are Lyon Player Ratings vs Lille

Goalkeeper

Dominik Greif - 8.5: Unquestionably the man of the match. What stood out was his incredible composure and world-class shot-stopping. He made three pivotal saves, including two from point-blank range to keep Lille at bay. His command of the box on high balls was exceptional, relieving so much pressure. From our perspective he single-handedly secured the three points for Lyon. A truly stellar performance.

Defenders

Nicolás Tagliafico - 7.5: A warrior's performance. He delivered a picture-perfect cross for the game's only goal, a moment of pure quality. Beyond that, he was a defensive rock, winning a staggering 11 duels and drawing five fouls. The yellow card was a minor blemish on an otherwise commanding display. He really stepped up when his team needed him.

Moussa Niakhaté - 7.0: A solid and composed outing at the heart of the defense. We noticed his reading of the game was on point, leading to nine clearances. His passing from the back was generally secure, though he lost possession a few too many times for our liking. He handled the threat of Olivier Giroud well for the most part, a tough task for any defender.

Clinton Mata - 7.0: Another defender who just did his job effectively. He matched Niakhaté with nine clearances, showcasing his no-nonsense approach to defending. He was strong and reliable, providing a steady presence on the right side of the backline. Wasn't flashy, but he didn't need to be.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 7.0: A quietly brilliant defensive shift. His five interceptions were a match-high and demonstrated his fantastic anticipation. We were impressed by his timing, especially one last-man tackle that was perfectly executed. He was dribbled past a couple of times but his overall contribution in breaking up Lille's attacks was invaluable.

Midfielders

Tanner Tessmann - 6.5: A mixed bag of a performance. He worked hard and wasn't afraid to get stuck in, though he lost more duels than he won and committed four fouls. His passing was tidy enough, but he struggled to impose himself on the game offensively. A functional, if unspectacular, outing in the middle of the park.

Adam Karabec - 6.5: Showed flashes of what he can do before being substituted. He completed a couple of nice dribbles and delivered two accurate crosses, but his overall influence was limited. He worked hard off the ball but struggled to find the spaces to truly hurt the opposition defense. A decent shift but you felt there was more to give.

Corentin Tolisso - 7.0: The captain led by example with a gritty display. He was a force in the air, winning four aerial duels, and battled hard to win the majority of his ground duels too. His passing was mostly reliable, helping recycle possession under pressure. It was a captain's performance, full of fight and determination.

Tyler Morton - 8.0: The match-winner. His goal was a superb header, taken with real conviction. Beyond the goal, he was a bundle of energy in midfield, making tackles and looking to move the ball forward. He popped up in the right place at the right time, and that's what separates good midfielders from great ones. An excellent, decisive contribution.

Malick Fofana - 6.5: A frustrating day for the winger. He showed plenty of effort and drew four fouls, but he was often wasteful in possession. He got into some good positions and had three shots, but couldn't find the target or test the keeper enough. The yellow card for a cynical foul summed up a day where things didn't quite click for him.

Forwards

Khalis Merah - 5.5: It was a tough outing for the attacker, who really struggled to get involved. From our perspective, the game just passed him by. He was substituted after 75 minutes having made very little impact on proceedings. He lost most of his duels and seemed to be on a different wavelength from his teammates.

Substitutes

Pavel Sulc - 6.0: Came on and immediately got into the thick of it, picking up a yellow card for his troubles. Missed a chance late on.

Afonso Moreira - 6.0: Also booked shortly after coming on, bringing aggression but little else.

Mathys de Carvalho - N/A: Brought on late to waste time.

Manager

P. Rodrigues Fonseca - 7.5: His game plan worked to perfection. He set his team up to be defensively solid and to strike on the counter. The early goal allowed them to sit back and absorb pressure, which they did expertly. His substitutions were pragmatic, designed to see out the result. A tactical victory.

Lille Player Ratings vs Lyon

Here are Lille Player Ratings vs Lyon

Goalkeeper

Arnaud Bodart - 6.5: Had very little to do aside from picking the ball out of his net. He couldn't be faulted for the excellent header from Tyler Morton. Made one comfortable save but was otherwise a spectator for large parts of the match. A quiet day at the office.

Defenders

N. Ngoy - 6.0: A difficult evening. He was reasonably comfortable in possession but struggled defensively, winning only a fraction of his duels. He looked a step off the pace at times and committed three fouls in his attempt to keep up. Not his best performance.

Tiago Santos - 6.5: A very busy performance. He was a constant outlet on the right, but his final ball was often lacking, crossing seven times with little success. He drew an incredible six fouls but also lost possession far too frequently. Full of running but short on end product before his injury.

Aïssa Mandi - 6.5: Extremely tidy on the ball, boasting a 94% pass accuracy. He was solid for the most part but his performance was marred by a sloppy foul that earned him a yellow card. He was composed, but perhaps lacked the aggressive edge needed to stop Lyon's key attacks.

Calvin Verdonk - 6.5: Created three chances from the back which was impressive. He tried to make things happen, pushing forward from his defensive position. However, like his teammates, he was culpable of losing possession cheaply and was caught out defensively on occasion. A willing runner but lacked defensive security.

Midfielders

Matías Fernández-Pardo - 7.5: Looked like Lille's most dangerous player by a country mile. He was direct, completing three dribbles and constantly looking to get into the box. He forced a good save from the keeper and was a persistent threat. His yellow card for simulation was a sour note on an otherwise very positive and energetic display.

Hákon Arnar Haraldsson - 6.5: Had four shots but failed to hit the target with any of them. He got into good areas and looked to influence the game but his finishing let him down. A frustrating performance where he did a lot of things right until the final moment.

Ngal'ayel Mukau - 7.0: A really bright spark in midfield before his substitution. His passing was almost perfect, and he forced an excellent save from Dominik Greif with a well-struck shot. He looked composed and creative, and Lille missed his presence after he went off.

Félix Correia - 6.5: Another player who had a big chance and missed it. He was active on the wing but struggled to deliver a killer pass or shot. He worked hard defensively but couldn't provide the offensive spark his team desperately needed.

Ayyoub Bouaddi - 6.0: A difficult game for the young midfielder. He struggled to get a foothold, losing possession and being outmuscled in duels. He picked up a deserved yellow card and never really looked comfortable against a physical Lyon midfield. A learning experience for him.

Forwards

Olivier Giroud - 6.5: The veteran striker was well-marshalled by the Lyon defence. He won his fair share of aerial duels, as you'd expect, and tried to bring others into play. However, he didn't get a single shot away, which tells the story of his isolated and frustrating evening. He battled hard but got no service.

Substitutes

Osame Sahraoui - 6.5: Looked lively and forced a great save late on.

Nabil Bentaleb - 6.0: Came on and tried to dictate play but couldn't unlock the defense.

Hamza Igamane - 5.5: Got booked and missed a header. Made little positive impact.

Ethan Mbappé - N/A: Came on for the injured Tiago Santos in stoppage time.

Manager

B. Génésio - 6.0: His team dominated the ball and created chances but couldn't score. Conceding early put them on the back foot. His substitutions didn't have the desired effect, as his team continued to huff and puff without blowing the house down. A frustrating day where his team's lack of a clinical edge cost them dearly.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Greif