Lyon 1-0 Angers Player Ratings: Corentin Tolisso 9/10 Rated as Tessmann's Goal Secures a Narrow 1-0 Victory

Tanner Tessmann's second-half strike was enough for Lyon to edge past a stubborn Angers in a tense Ligue 1 clash. The final score of 1-0 doesn't quite tell the full story of a match where Lyon dominated possession but found it difficult to break down their opponents.

Lyon were relentless, but their finishing touch deserted them for large parts of the game. What stood out was the frustration building among the home players, especially after several missed opportunities in the first half. The breakthrough felt inevitable, and it eventually arrived courtesy of a well-taken goal from Tessmann after a corner, a moment of quality in a gritty encounter.

Angers, to their credit, defended with heart and organization, and almost snatched a point at the death. Their late flurry put immense pressure on the Lyon goal, forcing goalkeeper Dominik Greif into a couple of fantastic saves. We noticed the collective sigh of relief from the home side at the final whistle. It was a deserved victory for Lyon based on the balance of play, but they were certainly made to sweat for the three points. Here are the Lyon vs Angers player ratings.

Lyon Player Ratings vs Angers

Here are the Lyon player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Dominik Greif - 7.5: For most of the game, Greif was a spectator as his team dominated. However, when called upon in the dying moments, he was simply immense. He made two crucial saves in stoppage time to preserve the clean sheet and the victory. From our perspective, those saves were just as important as the goal itself, showing incredible concentration to stay sharp after a quiet evening.

Defenders

Nicolás Tagliafico - 7.0: A typically solid and energetic performance from the Argentine. He was defensively sound, winning most of his duels and contributing with key clearances. We noticed he was always an option going forward, linking up play and even getting a shot blocked inside the box. His experience was vital in managing the game, despite committing a few fouls.

Moussa Niakhaté - 7.0: A rock at the back for Lyon. He was imperious in the air winning six aerial duels and his passing from the back was almost perfect. His distribution with 107 accurate passes really helped Lyon build from deep. The yellow card was a minor blemish on an otherwise commanding display. What stood out to us was his calmness under pressure.

Clinton Mata - 7.0: Another strong pillar in Lyon's defense. Mata was strong in the tackle and read the game well making several important blocks and clearances. He was comfortable on the ball, contributing to Lyon's high possession count with 90 passes. His duel success rate was impressive, and he barely put a foot wrong all game. A really reliable performance.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 7.5: We thought Maitland-Niles was fantastic, contributing all over the pitch. He made three crucial interceptions and was always looking to drive forward, completing two successful dribbles. He had a couple of shots from distance that troubled the keeper, and his passing was incredibly accurate. A very modern full-back performance full of energy and quality.

Midfielders

Tanner Tessmann - 8.0: The match-winner. Tessmann was a constant threat, and his persistence paid off with the crucial goal. He took four shots in total and was always looking to get into dangerous areas. Beyond the goal, his work rate in midfield was commendable, recovering the ball five times. From our perspective, he provided the cutting edge his team was desperately seeking.

Adam Karabec - 7.0: The creative hub for Lyon for much of the game. Karabec was a constant source of danger from set-pieces and open play, whipping in 11 crosses and creating a big chance. We noticed his desire to make things happen, though sometimes the final ball didn't quite come off. A lively and influential performance before being substituted late on.

Corentin Tolisso - 8.5: Our man of the match. The captain led by example with a masterful midfield display. He controlled the tempo of the game with his exceptional passing, completing 91% of his attempts. What stood out was his intelligence, breaking up play with two interceptions and being dominant in his duels. He was the engine room and the brain of the team, a truly complete performance.

Khalis Merah - 6.0: A somewhat quiet outing for Merah before he was substituted after 64 minutes. He kept possession well but didn't offer much of an incisive threat going forward. He picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul and seemed to struggle to impose himself on the game. Not a bad performance, but not one that caught the eye either.

Forwards

Malick Fofana - 7.0: Fofana was a livewire on the flank, constantly looking to take on his man and create opportunities. He created a big chance and was a general nuisance for the Angers defence, drawing three fouls. However, we were a little disappointed with his finishing, as he missed a big chance to score himself. An exciting but raw performance.

Martín Satriano - 6.5: It was a frustrating night for the striker. He got into good positions and had chances, but his finishing let him down, missing a big chance and hitting the woodwork. His effort can't be faulted, but a striker is judged on goals, and it just wasn't his night. From our perspective, he looked visibly annoyed with himself when he was subbed off.

Substitutes

Pavel Sulc - 6.5: Came on and added some energy, getting involved in attacks immediately.

Mathys de Carvalho - N/A: Not on long enough to make a significant impact.

Enzo Molébé - N/A: Brought on late to see the game out.

Afonso Moreira - N/A: A late change with little time to influence proceedings.

Rachid Ghezzal - N/A: Came on in stoppage time.

Manager

P. Rodrigues Fonseca - 7.5: His team were well-drilled and stuck to the game plan despite the frustration of not scoring early. His substitutions were logical and helped manage the final stages of the game effectively. He set his team up to dominate and they did exactly that securing a vital win.

Angers Player Ratings vs Lyon

Here are the Angers player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Hervé Koffi - 7.5: Koffi was outstanding and kept his team in the contest for so long. He made four crucial saves, including a couple of really sharp stops from close range. His command of his area was good, and he could do nothing about the goal. Without him, the scoreline could have been much more comfortable for Lyon. A very impressive display of goalkeeping.

Defenders

Carlens Arcus - 6.0: It was a tough evening for Arcus, who was up against the tricky Malick Fofana. He picked up a yellow card and was dribbled past on one occasion. He made some important recoveries but often found himself on the back foot. We noticed he struggled to contain the pace and movement on Lyon's left flank.

Jacques Ekomié - 6.5: A mixed performance from Ekomié. He made an impressive five clearances and three successful tackles, showing his defensive commitment. However, from our perspective, his error leading to a shot was a nervy moment. He did get forward to create a chance late on, showing good spirit until the end.

Ousmane Camara - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular day at the office for Camara. He stood his ground well, making two crucial blocked shots and three clearances. His passing was reliable, but he struggled in his physical duels, winning just two of his three battles. He was part of a defensive unit that was under pressure for 90 minutes and largely held firm.

Jordan Lefort - 6.5: Lefort was a busy man, racking up seven clearances. He put his body on the line for the team, but a yellow card and being dribbled past took the shine off his performance. He fought hard in the air, winning three aerial duels, but looked stretched at times against Lyon's fluid attack.

Midfielders

Louis Mouton - 6.0: Mouton had a difficult time in the midfield battle before being substituted. He struggled to get on the ball and influence the game, with a low pass completion rate of 67%. While he won his only tackle, he lost the ball six times in his 19 touches. An afternoon where the game largely passed him by.

Yassin Belkhdim - 6.5: Belkhdim worked tirelessly for his team but had little opportunity to showcase his attacking qualities. He was disciplined in his defensive duties, making a key tackle and interception. From our perspective, he was neat on the ball when he had it, but those moments were too few and far between to make a real impact on the game.

Haris Belkebla - 6.0: As captain, Belkebla tried to rally his troops, but it was a tough game for him personally. He struggled to get a foothold in midfield, losing possession eight times from just 32 touches. He made some important defensive contributions with five ball recoveries but couldn't provide the control Angers needed to build attacks.

Forwards

Justin Kalumba - 6.0: Kalumba was isolated for long periods and had very little service to work with. He showed a willingness to run the channels but was often chasing lost causes. He completed one dribble but lost possession ten times, which sums up his frustrating evening before being substituted.

Lilian Raolisoa - 6.0: Another attacking player who had a difficult night. Raolisoa was guilty of losing possession far too often, giving the ball away 16 times. While he completed a couple of dribbles and put in a number of crosses, the quality was often lacking. He worked hard but couldn't provide the spark his team needed.

P. Peter - 6.5: What stood out to us was Peter's work rate. He fought for every ball, winning a remarkable eight duels and drawing four fouls from the Lyon defence. However, he was completely starved of service and had to feed off scraps, touching the ball just 22 times. A thankless task for the striker.

Substitutes

Himad Abdelli - 6.0: Came on but struggled to change the flow of the game.

Sidiki Cherif - 6.5: Looked lively and had a couple of shots blocked, adding a bit of threat.

Pierrick Capelle - 6.0: Brought on to add experience but had little impact.

Lanroy Machine - N/A: A late substitute who had a shot saved in stoppage time.

Manager

A. Dujeux - 7.0: Set his team up to be difficult to beat, and they were exactly that. His defensive organization was excellent, and they nearly pulled off an unlikely draw. His side lacked an attacking punch, but given the opposition, it was a pragmatic and well-executed game plan that almost worked.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Corentin Tolisso