Monaco Clinch Champions League Spot for Next Season with Win Against Lyon

AS Monaco has surged past Olympique de Marseille into second place in Ligue 1 after preserving their unbeaten home league record for 2025 (W7, D1) with a 2-0 victory over Olympique Lyonnais, securing UEFA Champions League football at Stade Louis II for the next season.

Lyon’s goalkeeper, Lucas Perri, nearly found himself in a precarious situation within seven minutes as his clearance was charged down by Mika Biereth, narrowly avoiding disaster as the ball went wide.

A short while later, Lyon, who entered the match sitting in seventh place, four points behind Monaco, had a chance to take the lead with a brilliant counter-attack. Unfortunately, Tanner Tessmann squandered the opportunity at a critical moment.

Immediately after, Monaco’s goalkeeper Philipp Kohn made a spectacular save, diving to his right to deny Alexandre Lacazette following a lovely through ball from Thiago Almada. At the other end, Perri demonstrated his quick reflexes by thwarting Takumi Minamino.

In the middle of the first half, Lyon were forced to make a substitution when Clinton Mata limped off, making way for Duje Caleta-Car. Lyon may have felt fortunate not to concede a goal when Lamine Camara’s pinpoint pass found Jordan Teze. However, instead of attempting a shot, the Dutchman opted to cut the ball back to Minamino, whose deflected strike went out for a corner.

Nicolas Tagliafico’s timely interception prevented Minamino from delivering a pass to Biereth, and Malick Fofana, making his first significant contribution to the game, saw his curling attempt expertly tipped behind by Kohn.

Neither Adi Hutter nor Paulo Fonseca made any substitutions at half-time, but both managers would have been hoping for more firepower from their sides.

Monaco got the second half underway with the first shot on target, as Perri was forced to parry away Breel Embolo’s effort before Maghes Akliouche struck the side-netting.

Lyon had the option of bringing on Rayan Cherki and Georges Mikautadze from the bench, but neither were introduced before Jordan Veretout’s poorly executed pass deceived Nemanja Matic, allowing Monaco to strike ruthlessly.

Minamino advanced into the Lyon penalty area and fired a precise shot across Perri into the far corner.

Cherki was finally brought on, but Lyon faced immediate challenges as Ainsley Maitland-Niles fouled Caio Henrique. Lamine Camara’s resulting free-kick was cleverly headed in by captain Denis Zakaria.

Mikautadze then made a late appearance, but it was too little too late for Lyon, who now must secure a win against Angers next Saturday to keep their hopes of European football alive for next season.

Meanwhile, Monaco heads to RC Lens in celebratory mood, especially after achieving three consecutive home clean sheets in Ligue 1 for the first time since February 2022.