Paulo Fonseca’s Lyon Secures 12th Consecutive Win with Pavel Sulc’s Goal to Climb Ligue 1 Table

Lyon, managed by Paulo Fonseca, secured a crucial 1-0 victory away at Nantes, extending their winning streak to 12 consecutive matches across all competitions. This important result allowed Lyon to move ahead of Marseille and temporarily rise to third place in the Ligue 1 standings.

The decisive goal came in the 25th minute from Czech forward Pavel Sulc. Sulc capitalised on a deflected shot from teammate Afonso Moreira to score his tenth goal of the Ligue 1 season. This milestone places Sulc among an elite group of Czech players who have reached double figures in a single French top-flight campaign, joining Antonin Tichy, Karel Michlovsky, and Lubos Kubik.

Despite taking the lead, Lyon faced significant adversity after the 61st minute when Endrick received a straight red card following a tackle on Dehmaine Tabibou. Reduced to ten men for over half an hour, Lyon had to defend resolutely to maintain their advantage. The team’s goalkeeper, Dominik Greif, played a pivotal role in preserving the clean sheet, making several key saves throughout the match.

Nantes, meanwhile, endured a frustrating evening as they hit the woodwork three times. The home side started strongly, with Mohamed Kaba narrowly missing the target early on. In the second half, Nantes intensified their pressure, with substitute Youssef El Arabi creating multiple scoring chances. Greif denied El Arabi in the 49th minute, and shortly after, El Arabi’s header struck the post. Late in stoppage time, a shot from Guirassy, deflected by Mathis Abline, also hit the woodwork, underscoring Nantes’ misfortune in front of goal. This defeat marked Nantes’ fifth consecutive loss in Ligue 1.

For Lyon, this victory not only extends their impressive winning run but also strengthens their position near the top of the Ligue 1 table. The team will be looking to build on this momentum in their upcoming fixtures as they aim to secure a strong finish to the season. Meanwhile, Nantes will need to regroup and address their recent struggles as they prepare for their next challenge in the league.