Young Boys 0-1 Olympique Lyonnais Player Ratings: Maitland-Niles Seals Hard-Fought Win for Les Gones

A single moment of quality proved decisive at the Stadion Wankdorf, as Olympique Lyonnais edged past Young Boys with a narrow 1-0 victory in this Europa League encounter. This was a tight and finely balanced contest, with very little separating the two sides over the course of 90 minutes.

The breakthrough arrived just before the interval. Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck in first-half stoppage time, giving Lyon a crucial advantage heading into the break. It was a goal that shifted the momentum, but not the overall complexion of the match.

Despite Lyon enjoying more control of possession, Young Boys carried a constant threat. They came inches close on multiple occasions, rattling the crossbar through Alvyn Sanches and seeing a goal ruled out following a VAR review.

What stood out to us was Lyon’s composure under pressure, managing the second half effectively to protect their slender lead. It was a disciplined European away performance, built on efficiency rather than dominance.

Let’s take a look at Sportsdunia’s Young Boys vs Olympique Lyonnais player ratings from the Europa League clash.

Key Takeaways

• Maitland-Niles’ stoppage-time strike proved the difference.
• The hosts pushed hard, hitting the bar and having a goal ruled out by VAR.
• Controlled game management and discipline secured a narrow 1–0 away win.

Olympique Lyonnais Player Ratings vs Young Boys

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

Goalkeeper

Rémy Descamps - 6.5: We noticed he had a couple of nervy moments, with two errors that led to shots for the opposition. He only made one save. While he kept a clean sheet, it wasn't the most commanding of performances from our perspective. He did what was required, but barely.

Defenders

Ainsley Maitland-Niles - 8.0: Easily the man of the match. He took his goal with fantastic composure, a clinical finish into the top corner. Beyond the goal, he was solid, contributing three clearances and recovering the ball five times. A complete performance that won his team the game. We were thoroughly impressed.

Clinton Mata - 7.0: The captain led by example with a sturdy defensive shift. He was tidy on the ball, boasting an 89% pass accuracy and contributing five clearances. He looked composed and organized the backline well. A proper captain's display.

Ruben Kluivert - 7.5: What stood out to us was his calmness under pressure. He made two crucial blocks and was dominant in his duels, winning five of seven. His 93% pass accuracy shows how comfortable he was playing out from the back. A very mature and impressive outing.

Nicolás Tagliafico - 6.0: Only played the first half before being substituted. He was solid enough during his time on the pitch, making a tackle and an interception. Didn't do anything wrong, but didn't have enough time to truly make his mark on the proceedings.

Midfielders

Tanner Tessmann - 7.0: A very busy performance from the American midfielder. He was always looking to make things happen, taking three shots and creating a chance. His passing was crisp and accurate, and he battled hard in the middle of the park. A really positive display.

Tyler Morton - 6.5: A neat and tidy game. He kept the ball moving with 92% pass accuracy and made some important tackles. We felt he could have been a bit more adventurous with his passing, but he played his role effectively. A quiet but efficient night.

Khalis Merah - 7.0: A strong all-round contribution. He was a real engine in midfield, recovering the ball six times and showing a willingness to shoot. He drew several fouls and was a constant nuisance for the opposition before being subbed off.

Forwards

Afonso Moreira - 7.5: He was Lyon's most dangerous attacker, without a doubt. He forced the Young Boys keeper into two good saves and created two chances for his teammates. He looked bright, sharp, and full of confidence. A fantastic performance that deserved a goal.

Adam Karabec - 6.5: He showed flashes of his quality, creating a chance and delivering some good crosses. However, from our perspective, he lost possession far too often, which stunted some of Lyon's attacks. A mixed bag of a performance.

Pavel Sulc - 6.0: Worked tirelessly for the team but lacked the cutting edge in the final third. He won a decent number of duels but couldn't convert his chances. His effort was there, but the end product was missing on the night.

Manager

P. Rodrigues Fonseca - 7.0: He set his team up perfectly for a tough European away game. They were organized, resilient, and clinical when it mattered most. His halftime substitution was proactive. A well-earned victory based on solid tactical foundations.

Young Boys Player Ratings vs Olympique Lyonnais

Let's take a look at the Young Boys Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Marvin Keller - 6.5: Made three saves and couldn't be blamed for the excellent finish from Maitland-Niles. His distribution was a bit inconsistent, but he did his job between the sticks. A decent performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Saidy Janko - 6.5: A solid outing at right-back. He won most of his duels and made four clearances. He tried to support the attack when possible but was primarily focused on his defensive duties. Did his job well.

Gregory Wüthrich - 7.0: A real warrior at the back for Young Boys. He won an impressive 75% of his duels and made several key interceptions and clearances. It was a commanding performance, and he was one of his team's best players.

Sandro Lauper - 6.0: While his passing was excellent, we felt he struggled in his defensive duties at times. He was dribbled past once and only won half of his tackles. An okay performance, but not as dominant as his center-back partner.

Loris Benito - 6.0: The captain had a difficult night. He lost possession a staggering 18 times, which is simply too high. While he made some good defensive contributions, his sloppiness on the ball was a real issue for his team.

Midfielders

Edimilson Fernandes - 7.5: What a defensive shield he was. He was everywhere, making four tackles and four interceptions. His reading of the game was outstanding. From our perspective, he was the standout performer for Young Boys, a tireless worker in midfield.

Alvyn Sanches - 7.0: So incredibly unlucky. He was a livewire, creating a chance, having a shot on target, and was desperately unfortunate to see another effort crash against the crossbar. To then have a goal disallowed by VAR must have been gut-wrenching. He did everything but score.

Darian Males - 6.0: He was a bit of a ghost in the game. He drew a couple of fouls but struggled to impose himself on the match before being substituted. A quiet and ineffective performance, to be honest.

Rayan Raveloson - 5.5: A disappointing display. He committed three fouls, picked up a yellow card, and lost all four of his duels. He struggled to get a foothold in the game and was a passenger for large parts of it.

Forwards

Alan Virginius - 5.0: A night to forget for the attacker. He was credited with an error that led to the Lyon goal, a costly mistake in a tight game. Beyond that, he offered very little, losing most of his duels and failing to make an impact. The worst performer on the pitch.

Sergio Córdova - 6.0: A frustrating evening. He was a physical presence up front but was caught offside three times, killing promising attacks. He lost possession frequently and couldn't provide the focal point his team needed.

Manager

G. Seoane - 6.0: His team showed great spirit and was unlucky with both the woodwork and a VAR decision. However, they lacked the clinical edge to break down an organized Lyon defence. He'll be disappointed that his side couldn't find a way to get on the scoresheet.

Man of the Match

Ainsley Maitland-Niles was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Alan Virginius was the worst performer in the Young Boys vs Olympique Lyonnais UEL clash.