Nantes 0-1 Lyon Player Ratings: Pavel Sulc’s Sole Strike Seals Full Points for 10-Man Lyon

Olympique Lyonnais claimed a narrow but important win over Nantes at the Stade de la Beaujoire – Louis Fonteneau in a competitive Ligue 1 match. The visitors showed strong determination and focus throughout the game to secure all three points. Now, let's take a look at Nantes vs Layon player ratings from the Ligue 1 game.

The decisive moment came in the first half when Pavel Šulc scored with a composed finish. His goal proved to be the difference between the two sides. Nantes created several opportunities of their own but were unable to convert their chances, which ultimately cost them.

The match changed after the hour mark when Lyon’s Endrick was shown a straight red card. Reduced to ten men, Lyon were forced to defend for the final thirty minutes. They did so with excellent organisation and discipline, holding firm under pressure to see out the victory.

Key Takeaways

1. Pavel Šulc scored the only goal of the match in the first half.
2. Endrick was sent off after the hour mark, leaving Lyon with ten men.
3. Lyon defended solidly in the final stages to secure a 1-0 victory.

Nantes Player Ratings vs Olympique Lyonnais

Check out Nantes player ratings from the Ligue 1 match:

Goalkeeper

Anthony Lopes - 6.5: The captain couldn't do much about the well-placed goal. He made two crucial saves inside the box to keep his team in it. His distribution was decent, finding his mark 70% of the time. We noticed he commanded his area well, but was ultimately on the losing side despite a solid effort.

Defenders

Ali Youssef - 7.0: A really busy performance from the defender. He won an impressive 10 out of 12 duels and was perfect in his tackling. He even ventured forward, getting off a couple of shots. The yellow card was a slight blot on an otherwise commanding display at the back. He was a rock.

Nicolas Cozza - 6.0: A mixed evening for Cozza before he was substituted. He made five clearances, which was important as Lyon pressed. However, he lost possession a few times and didn't look entirely secure. An average performance, and the substitution felt justified from our perspective.

Kelvin Amian - 6.5: He was a willing runner down the flank. He created a big chance and was diligent with his defensive work. Got a yellow card for his troubles, perhaps a sign of his frustration. Overall a decent shift, but lacked that final bit of quality.

Midfielders

Johann Lepenant - 7.0: A workhorse in the midfield. He recovered the ball an incredible 10 times and wasn't afraid to get stuck in with four tackles. He also created two chances for his teammates. A tireless and very effective performance that deserved more.

Dehmaine Tabibou - 7.0: What stood out to us was his composure before his injury-forced substitution. He was excellent, winning tackles and distributing the ball with 87% accuracy. His departure was a significant blow to Nantes' midfield structure. A very promising display cut short.

Fabien Centonze - 6.5: He was involved everywhere, registering 59 touches. Made six clearances and put in five crosses. However, his final product was often lacking and he lost the ball 13 times. A frustratingly inconsistent performance from our point of view.

Mohamed Kaba - 6.5: So unlucky to hit the woodwork early in the game. That moment could have changed everything. Beyond that, he was tidy in possession but didn't impose himself on the match as much as he would have liked. The yellow card was a result of a late challenge.

Forwards

Rémy Cabella - 8.0: The best player in a Nantes shirt by a considerable margin. He was the creative hub, creating four key passes and constantly probing the Lyon defence. His movement was intelligent and he was a constant threat. He deserved an assist or a goal for his efforts.

Matthis Abline - 6.0: A night of hard work but little reward. He had a couple of shots but never truly tested the keeper. We felt he struggled to find space against a well-drilled Lyon backline. He won his tackles but his primary job is to threaten the goal, and he fell short.

Mostafa Mohamed - 4.5: A very poor performance. He was anonymous for the 45 minutes he was on the pitch. He lost possession 10 times from just 16 touches and was dispossessed four times. The halftime substitution was absolutely necessary, a truly forgettable outing.

Substitutes

Youssef El-Arabi - 7.0: Made a huge impact after coming on at halftime. He was unlucky to see his header cannon off the post. He offered a much bigger threat than the man he replaced.

Deiver Machado - 6.0: Came on for the injured Tabibou and tried to provide some width. Didn't have a huge influence on the game.

Abakar Sylla - 6.0: Replaced Cozza and had a decent headed chance that he sent over. Looked okay but the game was frantic by then.

Herba Guirassy - N/A: Came on too late to make any real impact.

Manager

A. Kantari - 5.5: He made the right call by substituting Mohamed at halftime. However, his team's inability to break down a 10-man Lyon for 30 minutes is a major concern. They lacked a clinical edge, and that ultimately falls on the manager's shoulders.

Lyon Player Ratings vs Nantes

Here are Lyon player ratings from their match against Nantes:

Goalkeeper

Dominik Greif - 7.0: A solid and reassuring presence in goal. He made two important saves to preserve his clean sheet. His handling was secure, and he did what was asked of him. The late yellow card for time-wasting was a smart piece of game management. A good day at the office.

Defenders

Moussa Niakhaté - 7.5: The captain led by example. He was a monster at the back, making a massive nine clearances. He was strong in the air and composed on the ball. An authoritative performance that was crucial to Lyon's defensive resilience, especially when down to ten men.

Clinton Mata - 8.5: Our man of the match. An absolutely immense defensive display. He recorded an unbelievable 14 clearances and made a last-man tackle. He was simply everywhere, a one-man wall at times. A performance of the highest order that won his team the three points.

Abner - 6.5: A quiet but effective game from the full-back. He was tidy in possession with an 84% pass accuracy. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but he was defensively sound. A disciplined, no-frills performance.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 6.5: Did his job without any fuss. He was positionally aware and made some important clearances and interceptions. It wasn't a spectacular performance, but it was a professional one. He contributed to a solid defensive unit effort.

Midfielders

Tanner Tessmann - 6.5: A bundle of energy in the midfield. He will be disappointed to have missed a big chance in the first half. He worked hard, won most of his duels, but was sometimes a little erratic in possession. A committed, if unpolished, performance.

Tyler Morton - 7.5: What stood out was his class on the ball. He dictated play from deep, completing 8 of his 11 long balls and maintaining a high pass accuracy. He was the calm head in a chaotic midfield battle. A very composed and intelligent display.

Noah Nartey - 7.0: Looked very comfortable on the ball, completing three successful dribbles. His 93% pass accuracy shows how reliable he was in possession. He helped Lyon control the midfield for large parts of the game before the red card. A really promising showing.

Forwards

Endrick - 3.0: A disastrous evening. Before the red card, he created a couple of chances and looked lively. But his moment of violent conduct was inexcusable. He completely let his team down and put them under immense pressure. A moment of madness that overshadows everything else.

Pavel Sulc - 8.0: The hero of the day. He took his goal with fantastic composure, a truly clinical finish. Beyond the goal, he worked tirelessly for the team, drawing fouls and helping out defensively. A match-winning contribution in every sense.

Afonso Moreira - 7.5: He was electric before his unfortunate injury. He provided a brilliant assist for the goal and was a constant menace with his dribbling and shooting. Lyon missed his creative spark after he went off. A superb performance cut short.

Substitutes

Hans Hateboer - 6.0: Came on for the injured Moreira and did a solid defensive job to help see out the win.

Khalis Merah - N/A: Brought on in stoppage time to waste time and secure the result.

Manager

P. Rodrigues Fonseca - 7.5: His game plan worked well until the red card. From our perspective, the way he reorganised his team to defend with ten men was masterful. They showed incredible spirit and discipline, which is a huge credit to their coach. A great tactical victory on the road.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match was Clinton Mata.

Worst Performer

Endrick failed to play the full match due to his red card.