Olympique Lyonnais 4-2 PAOK Player Ratings: Lyon Secure Commanding Win in High-scoring UEL Clash

Olympique Lyonnais and PAOK were involved in a chaotic and thrilling Europa League encounter, with the French side eventually claiming a dramatic 4-2 victory.

PAOK made a confident start and took the lead through Georgios Giakoumakis, putting Lyon under early pressure. The visitors looked sharp and organised in the opening stages. Lyon responded well and slowly grew into the game. Rémi Himbert brought the hosts level with an important equaliser, shifting the momentum back in Lyon’s favour.

The match changed dramatically in the 40th minute when PAOK’s Giannis Konstantelias received a second yellow card. Reduced to ten men, the Greek side were forced to defend for long periods.

Despite the disadvantage, PAOK showed impressive spirit. Soualiho Meïté scored to make it 2-2, keeping the contest alive and raising hopes of a result. Lyon’s extra man eventually proved decisive. Adam Karabec missed a penalty but redeemed himself with a late goal, before a substitute added a fourth to secure the win. Now, let's check out Lyon vs PAOK player ratings from the game.

Key Takeaways

1. Georgios Giakoumakis gave PAOK an early lead with a well-taken goal.
2. Giannis Konstantelias was sent off in the 40th minute after receiving a second yellow card.
3. Adam Karabec redeemed a missed penalty by scoring late to seal Lyon’s victory.

Olympique Lyonnais Player Ratings vs PAOK

Here are Lyon player ratings from the match against PAOK:

Goalkeeper

Rémy Descamps - 6.0: He conceded two goals, but couldn't do much about either of them. The first was a close-range finish and the second a well-placed header. He only made one save all game which tells you how much protection he had, especially in the second half. A quiet night for the keeper overall.

Defenders

Moussa Niakhaté - 7.0: The captain led by example. He was very secure in possession with a 96% pass accuracy. What stood out to us was his calmness under pressure, making 8 ball recoveries and 3 interceptions. He was a rock at the back for his team.

Ruben Kluivert - 6.5: Had a decent game before being substituted. He was 100% accurate with his passing which is impressive. Had a couple of shots on target and was generally solid. His substitution seemed tactical to introduce fresh legs.

Clinton Mata - 7.0: A very busy performance from the defender. He was everywhere, recovering the ball 9 times and winning 4 of his 5 duels. His energy down the flank was a constant outlet for Lyon, and he was defensively sound throughout the 90 minutes.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 6.5: A mixed bag from our perspective. He was solid defensively, contributing with tackles and interceptions. However, he also lost possession nine times, which is a bit high. He battled hard, winning a good number of his duels but wasn't as influential going forward as he could have been.

Midfielders

Adam Karabec - 8.0: What a rollercoaster of a game for this young man. He missed a crucial penalty, hitting the woodwork in a moment that could have defined his night. But he showed incredible character to bounce back, scoring the go-ahead goal and providing an assist for the fourth. He was a creative force with 4 key passes.

Afonso Moreira - 9.0: Absolutely unplayable. From our seats, he was the clear man of the match. He provided two assists, created six chances, and was a constant menace to the PAOK defense. His dribbling and vision were on another level, and he was the architect of Lyon's best moments. A truly special performance.

Tyler Morton - 6.5: A solid but short-lived performance. He was combative in midfield, winning most of his duels and making some key tackles. Picked up a yellow card for his troubles before being hooked at halftime in a tactical switch.

M. de Carvalho - 6.5: A workhorse in the middle of the park. He was involved in a staggering 16 duels, showing his commitment to the cause. While his passing was a bit loose at times, his defensive contribution and willingness to fight for every ball were vital, especially in the first half.

Khalis Merah - 7.0: He took his goal really well, a clinical finish to put Lyon ahead. He was a willing runner and got into some dangerous positions. However, he was also caught offside and his influence waned slightly before he was substituted.

Forwards

Rémi Himbert - 7.0: Scored a vital equalizer with a composed finish on the counter-attack. He was a handful for the defenders, winning a penalty and getting a couple of shots on target. He did miss a big chance and his overall play was a little frantic at times, but his goal was a huge moment in the match.

Substitutes

Tanner Tessmann - 6.5: Came on at halftime and provided stability in midfield. Kept the ball moving and had a shot from distance.

Abner Vinícius - 6.0: Replaced Kluivert and provided fresh energy at the back, helping to see out the game.

Tiago Gonçalves - 6.0: Had limited time to make a major impact but looked lively.

Alejandro Rodríguez - 7.5: The perfect impact sub. He came on late and immediately scored to kill the game. A poacher's finish to cap off a great night for Lyon.

Adil Hamdani - 7.5: Another substitute who changed the game. He provided the crucial assist for Karabec's goal just moments after coming on. A brilliant cameo.

Manager

P. Rodrigues Fonseca - 8.0: His team responded well after going down. His halftime and late-game substitutions were spot on, with both Hamdani and Rodríguez making decisive contributions. He set his team up to exploit the man advantage perfectly.

PAOK Player Ratings vs Olympique Lyonnais

Check out PAOK player ratings from the UEL clash:

Goalkeeper

Antonis Tsiftsis - 6.5: It's tough for a keeper who concedes four goals, but honestly, he kept the scoreline from being even worse. He made four saves, including three from inside the box. He couldn't do much about the goals but without him, Lyon might have run riot much earlier.

Defenders

Jonjoe Kenny - 5.5: A difficult evening for the right-back. He struggled to contain Lyon's attacks down his flank and was often caught out of position. He won a decent number of his duels but looked off the pace for much of the game.

Giannis Michailidis - 5.5: A night to forget for the central defender. He conceded the penalty that Karabec ultimately missed, a clumsy challenge that put his team under pressure. He lost possession 12 times and looked shaky against Lyon's fluid attack.

Tomasz Kedziora - 4.5: We thought he was the weakest link in the PAOK defense. He was poor in his duels and offered little resistance. He was part of a backline that conceded four goals and looked completely overwhelmed after the red card.

Abdul Rahman Baba - 5.0: He lost possession a staggering 16 times, which is simply unacceptable at this level. While he did show some attacking intent with his dribbling, he was a liability defensively. A really tough night for the left-back.

Midfielders

Soualiho Meïté - 8.0: PAOK's best player by a country mile. What a warrior's performance. He was immense in midfield, winning 11 of his 13 duels and scoring a fantastic header to bring his 10-man team level. He showed incredible fight and quality throughout.

Taison - 6.0: A quiet game from the Brazilian. He was neat on the ball but failed to create anything of note. He was largely a passenger before being substituted in the second half.

Andrija Zivkovic - 6.5: He delivered a great cross for Meïté's goal, showing his quality from set-pieces. However, he also had an error that led to a shot and lost possession frequently. A mixed performance from the captain.

Magomed Ozdoev - 6.0: He worked hard but had little impact on the game. He was tidy in possession but didn't provide much defensively or offensively. An anonymous display.

Giannis Konstantelias - 4.0: The game's villain. His two yellow cards in the first half were foolish and completely changed the complexion of the match. He let his team and manager down with his lack of discipline. A disastrous 40-minute display.

Forwards

Georgios Giakoumakis - 6.5: He took his goal well, showing great predatory instincts in the box. After that, he was isolated and starved of service, especially after the red card. He fought hard but was left with an impossible task.

Substitutes

Kiril Despodov - N/A: Came on late with little time to influence the proceedings.

Anestis Mythou - N/A: A late replacement for the tired Giakoumakis.

Mady Camara - N/A: Brought on in stoppage time.

Manager

R. Lucescu - 6.5: His game plan was working until the red card. He organized his team well to fight back with 10 men, and they showed incredible spirit to equalize. Ultimately, his side was undone by a moment of individual madness, not a tactical failure.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Lyon midfielder Afonso Moreira, with a rating of 9/10.

Worst Performer

Giannis Konstantelias saw an early red card in the UEL game.