Olympique Lyon Edge FC Utrecht in Europa League Opener
Olympique Lyon began their 2025/26 UEFA Europa League campaign with a narrow but important 1–0 away victory over Dutch side FC Utrecht at Stadion Galgenwaard on Thursday evening.
The decisive moment came in the 75th minute when Tanner Tessmann found the net, securing all three points for the French side. Despite Utrecht’s spirited performance, Lyon’s control of possession and experience ultimately proved too strong.
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Match Highlights
Final Score: FC Utrecht 0–1 Olympique Lyon
Goal Scorer: Tanner Tessmann (75’)
Venue: Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht
Referee: Horațiu Feșnic
Lyon dominated the ball with over 60% possession, registering more shots on target than their hosts. Utrecht, however, came close on a couple of occasions but lacked the finishing touch to break down Lyon’s defense.
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Key Stats
Possession: Utrecht 38% | Lyon 62%
Shots on Target: Utrecht 2 | Lyon 4
Total Shots: Utrecht 11 | Lyon 12
Yellow Cards: Utrecht 2 | Lyon 4
Corners: Utrecht 4 | Lyon 5
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What This Means
This result gives Lyon a strong start in the Europa League group stage, boosting confidence as they look to go deep in the competition. Utrecht, on the other hand, were denied their first Europa League point since 2010, despite showing resilience against a more experienced opponent.
Lyon fans will also be encouraged by the performance of Ruben Kluivert, who made his first start for the club against his former team, adding a personal twist to the night’s storyline.
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👉 Have Your Say: How far do you think Lyon can progress in this season’s Europa League? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
