Lyon 2-0 Salzburg Player Ratings: Karabec Rated 9/10 asLyon secure a comfortable 2-0 victory

What a performance from Olympique Lyonnais at the Groupama Stadium. They completely controlled this Europa League fixture, running out comfortable 2-0 winners against a lackluster Salzburg side. The match really could have been over sooner. From our perspective, the early penalty miss from Pavel Sulc set the tone for the entire evening. It was a golden chance squandered.

Alexander Schlager’s save was brilliant, no doubt. But you could feel the deflation in the visiting side. Just minutes later, Martín Satriano headed home a fantastic cross from the night's standout performer, Adam Karabec, to give Lyon the lead. It felt inevitable from that point on. Lyon's midfield just bossed the game, recycling possession with ease.

Salzburg barely laid a glove on them. They huffed and puffed but lacked any real cutting edge in the final third. The second half was more of the same story. Lyon's dominance was cemented when Ruben Kluivert rose highest to head in another pinpoint delivery from Adam Karabec following a corner.

Here are the Lyon Vs Salzburg Player Ratings

Lyon Player Ratings vs Salzburg

Here are Lyon Player Ratings vs Salzburg

Goalkeeper

Dominik Greif - 7.5: A very assured performance from the Lyon keeper. He wasn't tested constantly but made four important saves when called upon. What stood out to us was his perfect distribution, completing every single pass. Keeping the clean sheet was the cherry on top of a confident display. He commanded his area well throughout.

Defenders

Nicolás Tagliafico - 7.0: A typically busy night for the Argentine. He was a constant outlet on the left flank and contributed defensively with key interceptions. He did, however, miss a big chance that could have made the scoreline even more emphatic. Overall a solid, energetic display before being substituted.

Moussa Niakhaté - 7.5: A passing masterclass at the back. With 111 accurate passes, he dictated play from deep and was a wall in defense. He won all of his duels, showing his strength and reading of the game. What a calm and composed performance under pressure.

Ruben Kluivert - 8.5: What a game for the center-back. He capped an immense defensive display with a towering header for the second goal. He was dominant in the air and incredibly precise with his passing. A near-perfect performance that earns him one of the highest ratings on the pitch.

Clinton Mata - 7.5: An incredible 124 touches tells you everything about his involvement. He was everywhere on the right side, linking defense and attack seamlessly. His pass accuracy was outstanding and he was a rock defensively. A really tireless and effective performance from the defender.

Midfielders

Tanner Tessmann - 6.5: A tidy, if unspectacular, performance in the middle of the park. He kept possession moving and contributed defensively with a couple of interceptions. He did his job effectively before being replaced in the second half. A solid but quiet evening's work.

Adam Karabec - 9.0: The undisputed Man of the Match. This was a creative clinic from the midfielder. He provided two beautiful assists and created five chances in total. His delivery from set-pieces was a constant threat. From our perspective, he was the difference-maker and the architect of this victory.

Corentin Tolisso - 7.5: A real captain's performance. He led by example in midfield, winning duels and recovering the ball nine times. He was the engine room for Lyon, breaking up play and driving his team forward. A commanding and influential display from the experienced Frenchman.

Pavel Sulc - 6.0: A truly mixed evening for him. The missed penalty in the opening minutes was a massive moment and really dragged his rating down. He was active and got into good positions, but that failure from the spot is what will be remembered. He looked frustrated after that.

M. de Carvalho - 6.0: He worked hard but it was a clumsy performance at times. He committed three fouls and gave the ball away a bit too often for our liking. He didn't quite seem on the same wavelength as his more creative teammates. An average outing.

Forwards

Martín Satriano - 7.0: He got the crucial opening goal with a well-taken header. However, he also missed another big chance and struggled in physical duels. His goal is a massive contribution, but there's room for improvement in his all-around game. Still, a goal is a goal.

Substitutes

Malick Fofana - 6.0: Came on for the excellent Karabec but didn't have the same impact. Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 6.0: Provided fresh legs at the back to see out the game. Tyler Morton - 6.0: Helped solidify the midfield in the final stages. Enzo Molébé - N/A. Khalis Merah - N/A.

Manager

P. Rodrigues Fonseca - 8.0: His game plan worked to perfection. His team dominated from start to finish, controlled the midfield, and were clinical enough to get the job done. The tactics completely nullified Salzburg's threat. An excellent night at the office for the Lyon boss.

Salzburg Player Ratings vs Lyon

Here are Salzburg Player Ratings vs Lyon

Goalkeeper

Alexander Schlager - 6.5: A tale of two halves for the keeper. He made a fantastic penalty save early on which should have galvanized his team. However he was also at fault for an error leading to a goal and conceded twice. The penalty save alone stops his rating from being much lower.

Defenders

Jacob Rasmussen - 6.0: His passing was impressively accurate, but he was passive defensively. He struggled in his aerial and ground duels, which was a real problem against Lyon's attack. A tidy but ultimately ineffective performance. He needed to be more assertive.

Aleksa Terzic - 6.0: He tried to offer an outlet going forward and even tested the keeper once. Defensively, however, he was caught out of position and lost possession too frequently. He was often caught between attacking and defending, doing neither particularly well.

Stefan Lainer - 7.0: Probably Salzburg's best player on a poor night. He was one of the few who showed real fight and quality. He made a crucial goal-line clearance and tried to create chances going forward. He put in a real shift but was let down by those around him.

Joane Gadou - 5.5: A very difficult evening for the defender. He committed several fouls and looked off the pace. He struggled to cope with Lyon's movement and lost the majority of his duels. It was a tough learning experience for him against quality opposition.

Midfielders

Soumaïla Diabaté - 6.5: He was a busy presence in the midfield, winning his tackles and working hard. He was one of the few who could hold his head high. Despite his efforts, he couldn't turn the tide as Lyon's midfield was simply a class above. He fought a losing battle.

Maurits Kjærgaard - 5.5: Conceding a penalty for handball is a cardinal sin. That early mistake put his team on the back foot immediately. While he did register a shot on target, the penalty was a defining, negative moment that overshadowed his entire performance. A night to forget.

Mamady Diambou - 5.5: Made very little impact on the game. He picked up a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and was substituted early in the second half. He was largely anonymous and couldn't get a foothold in the game. Lyon's midfield just bypassed him.

Moussa Yeo - 5.0: A truly disappointing performance. He lost possession a staggering 12 times from just 30 touches and was a ghost in the midfield. He lost most of his duels and offered nothing going forward. Hooked before the hour mark, deservedly so.

Forwards

Yorbe Vertessen - 5.0: Completely isolated and ineffective. He managed only 15 touches in his 58 minutes on the pitch, which is shocking for a forward. He was a passenger for the entire game, offering no threat whatsoever. A very poor showing.

Petar Ratkov - 6.0: He worked hard and tried to make things happen, but lacked the quality to trouble Lyon's defense. He had a couple of efforts but never looked truly dangerous. He was starved of service for most of the match. An effort-filled but fruitless night.

Substitutes

Kerim Alajbegovic - 6.0: Showed some intent with a shot on target. Sota Kitano - 6.0: Tried to link play but couldn't unlock the defense. Edmund Baidoo - 6.0: Looked lively and forced a save. Karim Onisiwo - N/A. Frans Krätzig - N/A.

Manager

T. Letsch - 5.0: His team was outclassed and out-thought. The initial setup failed to contain Lyon's midfield, and they offered next to nothing in attack. His substitutions brought a little more energy but failed to change the outcome. A poor tactical display.

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