Well off to a good start in this Europa League group stage with 9 points out of 12 possible, Olympique Lyonnais offered a show of force this Thursday against Maccabi Tel Aviv on neutral ground, in the north of Serbia. From the start, the Lyonnais took the advantage. On a cross from De Carvalho on the right side, Tolisso deflected, and Abner finished in the empty goal after a missed intervention by the Israeli goalkeeper (4′).
OL then controlled the match, monopolizing the ball and chaining strikes. Tolisso stood out on several occasions, first missing a shot from a difficult angle (20′), before converting a superb dive with his header from Abner’s cross for 2-0 (25′). Niakhaté then widened the gap by converting a penalty caused by a foul on Sulc (36′), bringing the score to 3-0 before half-time.
Returning from the locker room, the Lyonnais didn’t give up. Tolisso scored two new goals in the space of a few minutes, first from a perfect cross from Sulc (50′), then from a delivery from Satriano after a first save from the goalkeeper (53′), bringing his personal total to a hat-trick and the score to 5-0. Lyon’s domination was total, leaving Maccabi Tel Aviv powerless.
Lyon in the lead
Karabec then added a sixth goal to seal the score (62′), while the Israelis struggled to react, settling for a few isolated strikes, including that of Peretz which hit the bar (64′). The rest of the second half was calm management for OL, who kept the ball and limited the rare opposing incursions.
With this resounding victory, Olympique Lyonnais pockets three additional points and takes the lead in the Europa League standings thanks to goal difference ahead of Midtjylland and Aston Villa, also on 12 points. Next European meeting at Groupama Stadium, against the Go Ahead Eagles, Thursday December 11.
