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Shorthanded Lyon edge Lorient

In the final game of Matchday 29, a Lyon side missing several key players won 2-0 against FC Lorient, boosting their hopes of reaching the Champions League.
E. DEVIN
Published on 04/12/2026 at 20:40
2-minute read
Corentin Tolisso scored his eighth goal of the season

In the final game of Matchday 29, a Lyon side missing several key players won 2-0 against FC Lorient, boosting their hopes of reaching the Champions League. Catch up on all the action from the Groupama Stadium with our recap.

Key absentees for both sides

After wins by Lille, Rennes and Marseille earlier in the weekend, Lyon badly needed a victory to snap a six-match winless run. They would have to accomplish this feat in tough circumstances, though, as they would be without several key players, with Pavel Šulc injured, Nicolás Tagliafico and all of Tanner Tessmann, Corentin Tolisso and Endrick on the bench. Lorient would be without Montassar Talbi in defence and veteran midfielder Laurent Abergel, but Bamba Dieng, one of the league's form strikers, would lead the line as he looked to score his sixth goal in seven matches. 

Lyon's first chance came from Roman Yaremchuk, starting in place of Endrick in attack, but the big Ukraine international saw his header balloon over the bar from Abner Vinicius' cross (10'). Lorient would grow in to the match from there, looking to play on the counter through Pablo Pagis and Dieng, but neither were able to get past Dominink Greif.

Just past the halfway mark, Lyon thought they had a penalty as Afonso Moreira was brought down in the box, but it came to nothing and the match remained scoreless. Lorient had another good chance on the half-hour, as Arsène Kouassi made a fine run before setting up Jean-Victor Makengo, whose tame effort was gathered by Greif.  The Slovakian would then stop Les Merlus' best chance in added time, denying Dieng from point-blank range.

Decisive changes for OL

Into the second half, Paulo Fonseca made a triple change as he brought on Tolisso, Endrick and Orel Mangala at the break, and immediately, Les Gones looked sharper. Indeed, it took just four minutes for Yaremchuk to head the hosts ahead, with Endrick providing the assist with a perfectly-placed cross (50'). Just six minutes late, another of the three entrants made his mark, with a looping header from Tolisso doubling the lead.   

Lyon had hoped to add to their lead with a penalty midway through the second half, but VAR affirmed Benoit Bastien's decision not to award a foul on Panos Katseris. From there, though, chances were few and far between, even if Greif had to dive to keep out Arthur Avom with ten minutes to play. With the win, Lyon now are just two points off Lille in third, and a point behind Marseille in fourth, and with Rennes nipping at their heels, the race for the Champions League looks more exciting than ever as the season enters its final month.  

Read more:

>> Multiplex: Lille go third with big win over Toulouse

>> What impact have coaching changes had in Ligue 1 this season?

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