In a display of sheer resilience and attacking flair, Olympique Lyonnais secured a commanding 4-2 victory over Greek side PAOK Salonika. This final matchday of the Europa League classification stage proved to be a decisive one, as the Ligue 1 giants officially moved to the summit of the table after eight matches. While the scoreline suggests a comfortable win, the French side had to navigate a turbulent evening at the Groupama Stadium, overcoming early setbacks and a spirited ten-man opposition.
The match began with high intensity, as both teams looked to establish dominance in the final round of the group phase. PAOK, coming off the back of an impressive win against Real Betis, arrived in France with high spirits and a clear tactical plan centered around set-piece efficiency.
An Uphill Battle For The Hosts
The visitors struck first, capitalizing on their aerial prowess. In the 20th minute, a perfectly delivered corner kick found the prolific Giorgos Giakoumakis, who showcased his predatory instincts by positioning himself perfectly at the near post. The striker’s close-range finish left the Lyon faithful stunned, giving the Greek side a vital psychological advantage.
Trailing at home, Lyon was forced to abandon their patient buildup in favor of a more aggressive, high-pressing game. The pressure finally told in the 34th minute. Launching a lightning-fast transition from defense to attack, winger Afonso Moreira played a pinpoint pass into the path of Remi Himbert. The forward did not hesitate, unleashing a thunderous strike into the far corner of the net to restore parity.
A Turning Point Before The Interval
The momentum shifted dramatically just five minutes before the break. Giannis Konstantelias, who had already been cautioned earlier, committed a reckless and heavy-handed foul on Lyon’s Mathys de Carvalho. The referee showed no leniency, brandishing a second yellow card followed by a red. The dismissal of PAOK's primary playmaker forced the visitors into a defensive shell.
Lyon nearly took the lead in the dying embers of the first half when Khalis Merah saw his header shave the paint off the post, but the teams headed into the tunnels level at 1-1, with the hosts knowing they held a significant numerical advantage for the remainder of the contest.
Pressure Tells In The Second Period
Coming out for the second half, Lyon utilized the extra man to stretch the PAOK defense across the width of the pitch. The relentless waves of attack eventually broke the resistance in the 55th minute. Khalis Merah, vibrant throughout the night, cut inside from the left wing with a series of skillful touches before rifling a shot into the back of the net. The goal marked Khalis Merah's contribution to the scoreboard and provided Afonso Moreira with his second assist of the evening.
However, PAOK refused to go quietly. Despite being a man down, they exploited Lyon’s occasional defensive complacency during set-piece scenarios. In the 66th minute, Andrija Zivkovic swung in a dangerous corner that found Soualiho Meite. The midfielder rose above the Lyon defenders to power home a header, shocking the stadium and leveling the score at 2-2.
Late Drama And Redemption
The equalizer acted as a wake-up call for manager Pierre Sage, who introduced fresh legs in the form of Abner and Tiago Gonçalves. The final ten minutes were filled with tension. In the 83rd minute, Lyon were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot, but Adam Karabec’s effort rattled the crossbar, much to the agony of the home fans.
Karabec did not have to wait long for redemption, however. In the 88th minute, during a chaotic scramble in the box, Adam Karabec controlled the ball expertly and slotted it home to make it 3-2. With PAOK pushing everyone forward in a desperate attempt to find a third equalizer, Lyon exploited the gaps left behind.
In the third minute of stoppage time, Alejandro Gomes Rodriguez embarked on a dazzling solo run, weaving through the tired Greek defense to score Lyon’s fourth and final goal. The victory was a testament to Lyon’s depth and their ability to stay composed under pressure.
Securing The Next Phase
With this 4-2 triumph, Lyon finishes the classification round as the top-seeded team, ensuring a favorable path in the upcoming knockout stages. While PAOK showed immense character to compete with ten men for over fifty minutes, Lyon’s individual quality and numerical superiority eventually proved insurmountable. The French side now looks ahead to the round of 16 as one of the clear favorites in the competition.