Monaco vs Lyon Player Ratings: Sulc's Brace Earns Lyon their First Win of 2026, Handing a 3-1 Defeat to Monaco at Home Turf

Olympique Lyonnais put on a clinical display to secure a commanding 3-1 victory over Monaco at the Stade Louis II. It was a game that had everything from spectacular goals to game-changing red cards. From our perspective, this was a statement win for Lyon in this Ligue 1 clash.

The visitors started quite strongly. They were rewarded when Pavel Sulc netted his first goal in the 38th minute, thanks to an assist from Nicolas Tagliafico. However, Monaco fought back. Mamadou Coulibaly scored a brilliant equalizer just before the halftime whistle, following a lovely ball from Folarin Balogun. The momentum seemed to be shifting at that point.

However, the second half belonged entirely to Olympique Lyonnais. Pavel Sulc once again showed his class with a fantastic strike from outside the box to restore their lead in the 57th minute. The real nail in the coffin for AS Monaco was Coulibaly's straight red card in the 70th minute.

It was a moment of madness that killed any hope of a comeback. Abner Vinicius then sealed the deal with a third goal in the 79th minute of the game, capping off a dominant performance that you can read more about in our full match analysis of the Monaco vs Lyon game.

Here are our Monaco vs Lyon Player Ratings that detail every player's performance in this high-voltage Ligue 1 clash.

Olympique Lyonnais Player Ratings vs Monaco

Here are Sportsdunia's Lyon Player Ratings from the Monaco vs Lyon Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Dominik Greif - 6.5: Conceded a well-taken goal, but couldn't do much about it. He made a vital save early in the match to deny Golovin. Remained composed throughout. We noticed he commanded his area well, especially with two punches from dangerous crosses. A steady, if unspectacular, performance.

Defenders

Nicolás Tagliafico - 8.5: A phenomenal performance. He was the architect of Lyon's attack from the back, providing two crucial assists. His energy up and down the left flank was relentless. What stood out to us was his creative spark, creating two big chances. A true game-winner on the day.

Ruben Kluivert - 6.5: A solid and no-nonsense display from the center-back. He made a team-high five clearances, dealing with danger effectively. Picked up a yellow card during the commotion of the red card incident. Otherwise, he was composed and did his job without any fuss.

Clinton Mata - 5.5: A very difficult outing for him. He was booked, and his error led directly to a goal, a moment he'll want to forget quickly. From our perspective, he seemed to struggle with Monaco's counter-attacks and committed a few too many fouls. Not his best day.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 8.0: Excellent display. He provided the crucial assist for Sulc's second goal. His composure on the ball was outstanding, with 92% pass accuracy. Defensively sound, making five clearances and winning all his duels. A very polished and complete performance from the full-back.

Midfielders

Corentin Tolisso - 7.5: The captain was everywhere. He was the engine in Lyon's midfield, creating four key passes and always looking to drive the team forward. His passion was evident, earning him a yellow card but it showed how much he wanted the win. A real leader's performance.

Tyler Morton - 7.0: The unsung hero in midfield. His pass accuracy was near-perfect at 98%, keeping possession ticking over effortlessly. Made four crucial interceptions to break up Monaco's play. He was the calm head that allowed the more creative players to flourish.

Khalis Merah - 6.5: Had a decent game before being substituted. He was neat and tidy in possession and provided a good outlet on the flank. He put in a dangerous cross that Tolisso nearly converted. Did his duty for the team effectively before making way.

Forwards

Pavel Sulc - 9.0: The undisputed Man of the Match. Two goals, both taken with supreme confidence. His first was a sharp finish in the box, and his second was a brilliant strike from outside the area that changed the game. He was clinical and decisive, the difference-maker. The highest rated player for a reason.

Abner - 7.5: Capped off a great team performance with a goal of his own. He was a constant threat before that, getting his shot on target and working hard. His goal was the cherry on top for Lyon. A very encouraging and energetic performance before he was subbed off.

Afonso Moreira - 7.0: A lively and tricky presence on the wing. While he didn't get a goal or assist, his movement and successful dribbles created problems for the Monaco defense. He drew defenders towards him, creating space for others to exploit. A solid contribution.

Substitutes

Tanner Tessmann - N/A: Came on late to see the game out.
Orel Mangala - N/A: Replaced the goalscorer Abner to shore things up.
Adam Karabec - N/A: Brought on for the final few minutes.

Manager

P. Rodrigues Fonseca - 8.0: His game plan was executed to perfection. He set his team up to be defensively solid but lethal on the break. His substitutions were timely and helped manage the game after going ahead. A tactical masterclass from the Lyon boss.

Monaco Player Ratings vs Olympique Lyonnais

Here are Sportsdunia's Monaco Player Ratings from the Monaco vs Lyon Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Lukas Hradecky - N/A: Forced off with an injury just 15 minutes into the match. Impossible to give a fair rating in such a short time on the pitch.

Defenders

Thilo Kehrer - 5.0: A tough day for the captain. He received an early yellow card and never looked comfortable against Lyon's fluid attack. As the leader of the backline that conceded three, he has to take some responsibility. A performance to forget.

Caio Henrique - 5.5: He really struggled. Lost possession an alarming 20 times and was often caught out of position. While he tried to get forward, his final product was lacking. A difficult afternoon against a very sharp Lyon side.

Mohammed Salisu - 6.0: He was probably the most solid of a shaky defense. Won a good number of his aerial duels and made a few important tackles. However, he was still part of a unit that looked disorganized and conceded three goals. A mixed bag.

Christian Mawissa - N/A: Another victim of an early injury. He had to be substituted in the first half before he could make any real impact on the game.

Midfielders

J. Teze - 5.5: He was overrun in the midfield battle. While he put in a shift, he lost more duels than he won and struggled to impose himself on the game. Lyon's midfield simply had too much quality for him to handle.

Aleksandr Golovin - 6.5: Looked like Monaco's most dangerous player in the first half. Forced a good save from the Lyon keeper. His influence waned significantly as the match progressed, and he was eventually substituted. A bright start that faded away.

Maghnes Akliouche - 6.0: A quiet and frustrating game for the midfielder. He got into some decent positions but his final pass or shot was consistently lacking. He worked hard but had very little impact on the proceedings.

Mamadou Coulibaly - 4.0: From hero to absolute zero. He scored a fantastic goal to bring his team level, a moment of real quality. But his straight red card for a reckless challenge was inexcusable. That moment of madness completely cost his team any chance of getting back into the match.

Forwards

Folarin Balogun - 7.0: One of the few bright sparks for Monaco. He provided a clever assist for Coulibaly's goal and always looked to make things happen. He was a constant nuisance for the Lyon defense. A respectable performance in a losing effort.

Mika Biereth - 5.5: Almost anonymous. He struggled to get involved in the game, with very few touches. Offered little to no threat and it was no surprise when he was substituted. A really disappointing outing for the forward.

Substitutes

Philipp Köhn - 6.0: Came on for the injured Hradecky. Made a couple of decent saves but couldn't do anything about the three well-taken goals he conceded.
Kassoum Ouattara - 6.0: Replaced the injured Mawissa and put in a busy performance without making a significant impact.
George Ilenikhena - N/A: Not enough time to influence the match.
Stanis Idumbo - N/A: A late substitute with the game already lost.

Manager

S. Pocognoli - 5.0: It was a difficult day for the Monaco manager. The early injuries didn't help his cause. His team lacked defensive cohesion and was thoroughly outplayed in midfield. He couldn't find a way to counter Lyon's tactics, especially after going down to ten men.

Sportsdunia Player of the Match: Pavel Sulc