Olympique Lyonnais maintained their flawless start to the UEFA Europa League campaign with a confident 2–0 victory over FC Basel. The French side, still yet to concede a goal in the tournament, showcased their European pedigree with an early opener and a composed display that reaffirmed their dominance in Group A.
Lightning Start Sets the Tone
Looking to rebound from back-to-back Ligue 1 losses, Lyon wasted no time asserting control. Just three minutes in, Basel’s defense crumbled under pressure when goalkeeper Marwin Hitz’s misplaced pass was intercepted by Mathys De Carvalho. The youngster’s quick reaction set up Corentin Tolisso, who calmly lifted the ball over Hitz to make it 1–0.
Basel tried to respond through Albian Ajeti and Xherdan Shaqiri, but Lyon’s back line remained solid. Despite a few half-chances, the Swiss visitors struggled to find any rhythm, while Lyon looked the sharper and more confident side in possession.
Lyon Push for a Second Before the Break
Uruguayan forward Martin Satriano came close to extending the lead when his driven effort flashed across the face of goal. Moments later, his header was comfortably saved by Hitz, leaving Lyon with a narrow one-goal advantage at halftime. Still, the French outfit’s control was clear—they had scored in 12 straight matches across all competitions heading into the interval.
Dominant Second Half Seals the Deal
After the restart, Lyon continued to dictate proceedings. Malick Fofana forced a fine save from Hitz at his near post, while Basel’s counterattacking efforts were swiftly snuffed out by Tyler Morton and Clinton Mata, both delivering key defensive interventions.
As the game entered its closing stages, Basel’s Leo Leroy came closest to leveling, but Dominik Greif’s sharp reflexes preserved Lyon’s clean sheet. In stoppage time, substitute Afonso Moreira put the result beyond doubt with a composed strike to seal the 2–0 victory.
Lyon’s European Form Continues to Impress
This result not only keeps Lyon unbeaten but also underlines their formidable home record in European competition—just one defeat in their last 18 Europa League matches at the Groupama Stadium (14 wins, 4 draws). Under Paulo Fonseca’s guidance, Les Gones sit comfortably in the top eight after three rounds, looking every bit a contender for a deep run in this year’s tournament.
