Lyon edge Monaco despite Ben Yedder double

In a Ligue 1 Uber Eats matchday that’s already seen its fair share of thrilling matches, from a three-all draw between Paris Saint-Germain and Le Havre that sealed the title for the capital side, to a 5-4 win for Stade Brestois at Stade Rennais that helped the visitors secure European football, AS Monaco and Olympique Lyonnais were eager to add to the excitement on Sunday evening at the Groupama Stadium.

The visitors had the odds stacked against them, with a raft of injuries and suspensions limiting Adi Hütter‘s options, but were first out of the traps, with Wissam Ben Yedder finding the net with less than a minute on the clock. After some clever pressing by Maghnes Akliouche, the ball was played in to Takumi Minamino, who picked out his captain at the far post. While initially flagged offside, the goal eventually stood, with Ben Yedder scoring for the first time since early February.

JUST TWENTY TWO SECONDS AFTER KICK-OFF ⚽️

1′ | 0⃣-1⃣ #OLASM pic.twitter.com/0NNDOsJsPT

— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) April 28, 2024

Lyon were undeterred, though. One of the league’s form teams since the appointment of Pierre Sage, Les Gones are still in the mix for a place in the top seven, and were eager to get a win that would move them ahead of Rennes following the Bretons’ loss earlier in the day. On a rainy evening in Lyon, though, Monaco would have the ball in the net again, but this time the flag stayed up, denying Folarin Balogun the chance to double the lead. Six minutes later, Lyon would have their goal, with the inevitable Alexandre Lacazette turning in a low cross from Saïd Benrahma. Lacazette’s goal was his fifth in five matches in all competitions, and leaves him third in the scoring charts.

Benrahma would go from provider to scorer just four minutes later, the West Ham United loanee scoring from inside the box after Clinton Mata‘s cutback wasn’t dealt with by the Monégasques’ defence. Lyon had the lead, and despite some decent chances from both sides in an open match, it would be more than thirty minutes before another goal. It was Ben Yedder again, scoring his thirteenth of the season, just moments after a brilliant save from Radoslaw Majecki to deny Benrahma from close range. Denis Zakaria lifted in a teasing ball and Ben Yedder headed home to level the match at two all.

84′ GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAL

Malick Fofana gives us the lead!!! 🔴🔵#OLASM 3-2 pic.twitter.com/TJvrXqslOK

— Olympique Lyonnais 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@OL_English) April 28, 2024

It would be the hosts who would have the last word, though, despite Ben Yedder’s best efforts, as the striker had a potential hat trick ruled our for offside. Five minutes from time, Lacazette released substitute Malick Fofana with a defence-splitting pass that would give his team all three points. Lyon with the win are now level on points with Olympique de Marseille, while Monaco stay second, two points ahead of Brest in third as the season continues to head towards a tense finish.