PLAYER RATINGS | Strasbourg 4-2 Lyon: Andrey Santos shines as Alsatians leapfrog Les Gones into fifth | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 27, 28/03/2025

Strasbourg have carved Lyon apart in a stellar six-goal thriller of a second half with Andrey Santos, Dilane Bakwa, Emanuel Emegha and Samuel Amo-Ameyah on the scoresheet. Corentin Tolisso and Georges Mikautadze reduced the deficit in vain.

The Match

Two of the most in-form Ligue 1 teams got Matchday 27 underway as Paulo Fonseca’s Lyon paid a visit to Liam Rosenior’s Strasbourg. The Alsatians had the opportunity to leapfrog OL into fifth place. Lyon made their intent clear from the get-go as Jordan Veretout tried a vicious first-minute cross-shot, which Đorđe Petrović parried away at his near post.

The Chelsea loanee would frustrate the France international again as Lyon ramped up the pressure. Georges Mikautadze – tasked to lead the line with Alexandre Lacazette benched – smashed the crossbar on the volley.  Liam Rosenior’s team climbed up to Ligue 1’s heights courtesy of their energetic style, but they seemed outpaced by their opponents with Corentin Tolisso and Tanner Tessmann particularly adept at setting up the press.

Lyon thought they had eventually broken the deadlock as Ernest Nuamah’s deflected cross found its way in, but the Ghana international was flagged offside. As for Strasbourg, they didn’t even register a shot on target in the first half. A goalless first half would be quickly forgotten as Strasbourg and Lyon offered a seven-minute flurry of three goals.

Strasbourg captain Andrey Santos drew first blood as the unmarked Chelsea loanee headed home from Dilane Bakwa’s corner kick. The former Bordeaux winger also profited from Lyon’s passiveness, dancing his way from the touchline to the outside of the penalty box, from where he doubled his side’s lead with a clean left-footed effort.

Corentin Tolisso halved the deficit from close range, but Strasbourg was visibly a team transformed by Liam Rosenior’s half-time pep talk. The Alsatians were now winning duels and fouls in every area of the pitch, laying Lyon’s weaknesses bare. The impeccable Valentin Barco threaded an inch-perfect through-ball for Emanuel Emegha to run into and eventually to restore his side’s two-goal cushion, the Dutch centre-forward outmuscling both Clinton Mata and Moussa Niakhaté.

Georges Mikautadze’s late penalty would not spoil the party as Strasbourg leapfrog Les Gones into 5th. Strasbourg have a one-point deficit on Monaco and Nice before Sunday’s Riviera derby.

Lyon Player Ratings

Lucas Perri – 4

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 3

Clinton Mata – 3

The centre-back badly struggled in the second half. He was left in the dust by Emanuel Emegha for Strasbourg’s third goal and completely missed his clearance for the hosts’ fourth. A game to forget.

Moussa Niakhaté – 3

Abner – 3

Jordan Veretout – 5

Ernest Nuamah – 4

Tanner Tessmann – 4

Corentin Tolisso – 5

Rayan Cherki – 4

George Mikautadze – 5

Selected Strasbourg Player Ratings

Valentin Barco – 7

Dilane Bakwa – 7

The winger was a menace throughout on the right flank, tormenting Abner. His precise corner kick found Andrey Santos for the opener and he doubled his side’s all on his own.

Andrey Santos – 8

It’s another special midfield performance from the Brazilian. He broke the deadlock before the hour mark with a powerful header and shone through in the second half, winning duels and recovering balls left and right. Chelsea sure have a serious talent within their roster.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval