Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 Brest Player Ratings: Endrick's Masterclass Secures Narrow Victory for Les Gones

Olympique Lyonnais claimed a controlled 2–1 victory over Brest in this Ligue 1 encounter at the Groupama Stadium. While the scoreline suggests a narrow win, Lyon were largely in command for long periods, with the match shaped by an early turning point and moments of individual quality.

The decisive moment arrived in the 19th minute when Romain Del Castillo was shown a straight red card, leaving Brest with a difficult task. Lyon quickly asserted their numerical advantage, dictating the tempo and pressing higher up the pitch.

The pressure told just before halftime as Pavel Šulc broke the deadlock, and Lyon doubled their advantage in stoppage time through a thunderous strike from Abner, heading into the break with a comfortable cushion. Endrick was central to much of Lyon’s attacking play, consistently troubling Brest’s defence with his movement and creativity.

To their credit, Brest showed resilience in the second half and refused to fold completely. Substitute Junior Dina Ebimbe pulled a goal back late on in the 87th minute to give the visitors hope, but Lyon managed the closing stages well to see out the result.

It was an entertaining contest that highlighted Lyon’s attacking quality. Here are Sportsdunia's Olympique Lyonnais vs Brest Player Ratings from the Ligue 1 clash.

Key Takeaways

Olympique Lyonnais Player Ratings vs Brest

Here's a look at the Olympique Lyonnais Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Dominik Greif - 6.5: Had a relatively quiet evening between the sticks. He made a key save from a Joris Chotard strike in the first half. Couldn't do much about the late goal he conceded, it was a well-placed shot. We noticed his distribution was flawless, completing every single one of his passes. A steady, if untested, performance.

Defenders

Nicolás Tagliafico - 7.0: The captain led by example with a typically tenacious display. He was strong in his duels and offered an outlet going forward, even getting a few shots away. His link-up play was solid and he created a chance for his teammates. A real commanding presence at the back, just what you expect from your skipper.

Ruben Kluivert - 6.5: A decent outing for the central defender. He was very tidy in possession with a 93% pass accuracy and recovered the ball ten times. However, what stood out to us was his struggle in the air, winning only one of his four aerial duels. He did his job without much fuss but wasn't a standout performer.

Clinton Mata - 6.5: Mata was a pass master, completing 95% of his 84 passes. He was heavily involved in building play from the back. From our perspective, he seemed a little weak in his defensive challenges, winning only a third of his duels. A mixed performance, brilliant on the ball but could have been stronger defensively.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 7.0: Played in a defensive role and had a really solid game before being substituted. He made several key interceptions and tackles, showing great defensive awareness. He did pick up a yellow card for a cynical foul, but his overall contribution was very positive. He was a constant thorn in Brest's side.

Midfielders

Tanner Tessmann - 6.5: An energetic but ultimately frustrating performance. He was constantly involved, taking three shots and creating a big chance. However, he also missed a big chance himself and had a very low success rate in his duels. He worked hard but the final product just wasn't quite there for him on the day.

Tyler Morton - 7.5: A midfield metronome. Morton dictated the tempo of the game with his exceptional passing range, completing 96 of his 102 passes. He was always looking to progress the ball and created two chances for his teammates. It was a calm and composed performance that provided the platform for Lyon's attackers to shine.

Abner - 8.0: What a performance. He scored an absolute rocket of a goal just before half-time that really knocked the stuffing out of Brest. Beyond the goal, he was a creative force, delivering three accurate crosses and setting up two chances. He did get a late yellow card, but his attacking contribution was immense and decisive.

Forwards

Endrick - 9.0: Simply sensational. The highest-rated player on the pitch and our man of the match. He was unplayable at times, completing 8 of 16 dribbles and creating an astonishing five chances, including an assist. He was a constant threat, involved in 24 duels, and his movement was a nightmare for the Brest defence. A truly world-class display that lit up the match.

Pavel Sulc - 7.5: He got the all-important opening goal with a poacher's finish. While he wasn't as involved in general play as his fellow attackers, his contribution was critical. Scoring the first goal against a team down to ten men is crucial, and he delivered. A good, effective performance.

Afonso Moreira - 6.5: A mixed bag from Moreira. He provided an assist and created a big chance, showing his creative side. On the other hand, he lost possession 18 times and missed a big chance himself. There were flashes of quality, but it was ultimately an inconsistent performance from the attacker.

Substitutes

Substitutes - N/A: The substitutes, Orel Mangala and Khalis Merah, came on to help see the game out. They did their jobs effectively, maintaining control and ensuring Brest couldn't mount a full comeback. They slotted in seamlessly to secure the victory.

Manager

P. Rodrigues Fonseca - 7.5: His game plan worked perfectly. His team exploited the man advantage with ruthless efficiency, especially in the first half. He set his side up to attack and they delivered with some beautiful football. The late goal conceded will be a minor annoyance, but overall, a very successful day at the office for the manager.

Brest Player Ratings vs Olympique Lyonnais

Let's take a look at the Brest Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Grégoire Coudert - 6.5: It's tough for a keeper when your team is down to 10 men. He conceded two goals but also made four saves, including two crucial stops from inside the box. Without him, the scoreline could have been much worse. He did what he could under immense pressure and can't be faulted for the loss.

Defenders

Bradley Locko - 6.5: Had an incredibly busy evening against Endrick and co. He won a staggering 13 duels and made 6 successful tackles. However, he was also dribbled past five times, which shows just how much pressure he was under. A battling performance in a losing cause.

Brendan Chardonnet - 7.5: A true captain's display in the face of adversity. He was a rock at the back, making 10 clearances and blocking 4 shots. He then popped up with an assist for his team's late goal. An absolute warrior who fought until the very last minute for his team.

Soumaïla Coulibaly - 6.0: Like his defensive partner, he made 10 clearances, which shows how much defending Brest had to do. Unfortunately, a glaring error from him led to a shot, which tarnishes his performance. He was solid for the most part but that mistake was costly.

Kenny Lala - 6.0: A quiet game for Lala before he was substituted. He was defensively sound enough, winning most of his duels, but offered very little going forward. He did his job but failed to make any real impact on the proceedings before being taken off.

Midfielders

Hugo Magnetti - 5.5: A tough day for the midfielder. He was overrun by the Lyon midfield and struggled to get a foothold in the game. He lost possession frequently and was largely ineffective both defensively and offensively. A performance he will want to forget quickly.

Romain Del Castillo - 3.0: The villain of the piece for Brest. His early red card for a reckless foul completely changed the game. Lasting only 19 minutes, he left his team with an impossible task. It was a moment of madness that cost his team any chance of getting a result.

Joris Chotard - 6.5: He worked tirelessly in a losing battle. After the red card, his job became almost impossible, but he never stopped running. He recovered the ball seven times and tried to drive his team forward when he could. A gutsy performance under very difficult circumstances.

Rémy Labeau Lascary - 6.0: The game largely passed him by. He was unable to make an impact before being substituted in the second half. He was tidy enough on the ball but lacked the penetration to hurt the Lyon defence. An anonymous display.

Lucas Tousart - 6.0: Much like his midfield partners, he had a difficult evening. He fought hard, winning four of his six duels, but was chasing shadows for large parts of the match. He was substituted in the second half as his manager looked for a different approach.

Forwards

Ludovic Ajorque - 6.0: A thankless task for the lone striker. He was completely isolated after the red card but still managed to win 8 duels. He battled hard against the Lyon defenders but was starved of any real service. He missed a big chance early in the second half, which summed up his frustrating evening.

Substitutes

Junior Dina Ebimbe - 7.0: Made a fantastic impact off the bench, scoring a well-taken goal to give his team a glimmer of hope. He provided a spark that was missing. The other substitutes fought hard but couldn't change the outcome of the match.

Manager

E. Roy - 6.0: What can you say? His game plan went out the window after 19 minutes. It's incredibly difficult to judge him on this performance. His team showed great character to score a late goal, which is a credit to him and his players' spirit. He'll be furious with the red card but proud of the fight his team showed.

Man of the Match

Endrick was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Romain Del Castillo was the worst performer.