Lyon travelled to Vitoria de Guimaraes on Thursday night with the chance to cement their place as Group I winners in the Europa League.
The French side would head the table with a victory, while the Portuguese outfit could no longer qualify for the knockout stages.
In a thoroughly entertaining game, Lyon came from behind to secure the win and go through at the top of Group I.
Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole’s live coverage of the Europa League where Vitoria de Guimaraes host Lyon in Group I.
It’s do or die tonight for Lyon, who can confirm their spot in the last 32 with a win here tonight, although matching the result of second-placed Real Betis would be enough to send Remi Garde’s side through as winners of the group.
On the other hand, the hosts cannot finish any higher than third, which they would guarantee with a point. It would take a defeat here and for Rijeka to shock Real Betis in the other match for them to slump to bottom.
The two sides met on matchday two of the competition, where they drew 1-1 at the Stade de Gerland in what was Vitoria's first encounter with a French club. Moussa Maazou put the Portuguese ahead that night, before Maxime Gonalons's second-half header drew Lyon level.
Vitoria got off to a flyer in the this tournament with a huge 4-0 win over Rijeka, which guaranteed them a better finish that their only previous campaign in the competition back in 2005-06 when it was the UEFA Cup.
They have since picked up just two points from their following four games, including that draw at Lyon.
Les Gones have enjoyed a pretty successful group stages. They’ve drawn both their previous away games as well as at home to this opposition. But they remain unbeaten after beating Real Betis and Rijeka back in France.
Right, let’s take a look at the teams, starting with the home side.
VITORIA XI: Douglas, Correia, Oliveira, Freire, Addy, Moreno, Andre, Crivellaro, Malonga, Matias, Tomane
LYON XI: Lopes, Tolisso, Bisevac, Kone, Zeffane, Mvuemba, Ferri, Plea, Gourcuff, Danic, Gomis
Here come the teams.
KICK OFF! We're underway in Portugal.
SAVE! Gourcuff absolutely leathers a low free kick from about 40 yards, that draw a relatively comfortable save out of Douglas.
CHANCE! Now an effort from Vitora's Marco Matias, who drifts in from the right and curls a left-footed shot from the edge of the D, which creeps just wide of the near post.
Vitoria are in their home kit of gold shirts with black sleeves, socks and shorts, while Lyon are in their all-red away strip. Vitoria playing to the left, Vitoria shooting to the right.
Crivellaro hits a shot from just inside the box which initially looks to have just been dragged wide, but replays show it did actually take a touch of Kone. The resulting corner causes Lopes no trouble though.
Vitoria are on top at the moment and have had several corners already, but they haven't managed to do much with them.
Vitoria have the ball in the back of the net after Moreno competes in the air with Lopes from a free kick, which the keeper punches into his own net. But the referee penalises Moreno for a foul, and the Vitoria man is far from happy about it.
GOAL! Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-0 Lyon (Tomane)
No question about that goal, Vitoria are deservedly ahead. A free kick comes in from the left which results in a spate of head tennis, before Tomane brilliantly shrugs off Kone to chest the ball and drill it into the bottom corner. Great finish.
There hasn't really been much of a response from Lyon. They've had a bit more of the ball, but they haven't been causing the Vitoria backline any problems.
Gourcuff clips in a low free kick from the left of the box, but Vitoria can deal with it with the greatest of ease.
Lyon have been very poor so far.
Corner to Lyon on the left, Danic is going over to it.
CLOSE! What a powerful hit from Mvuemba! The corner is whipped in by Danic, but Vitoria can knock it out to the edge of the box. Mvuemba then meets it on the half volley, and slams it just wide of the near post. That would have been some leveller.
Vitoria are starting to find their rhythm again now, and enjoying some good, quick passing possession.
No chances to report in the last few minutes, but there has been some nice intricate football on display from both sides.
Apart from the goal and Mvuemba sledgehammer, we haven't really been treated to much goalmouth action at all so far tonight.
Danic has a free kick on the right corner of the Vitoria penalty area and should either have a go at goal or be able to dink a nice ball to the far post. He does neither, and scuffs his ball along the floor straight into the welcoming arms of Douglas. Utter waste.
Not too long until half time, and Lyon have shown nothing to suggest that they will be going into the dressing rooms on level terms.
CLOSE! It's off the line by Lyon! That would have been a brilliant second goal for Vitoria, as Crivellaro chips the onrushing Lopes on the left of the box, but it's hooked off the line at the death by Zeffane.
SAVE! Lyon instantly go up the other end and go very close to an equaliser. Ferri, central and 35 yards out, cracks a belter at pace which forces Douglas to push it behind for a corner.
The corner comes to nothing, but that was a great phase of play.
There will be one added minute.
HALF TIME: Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-0 Lyon
There goes the whistle to bring an end to a fairly average half. VItoria lead thanks to a great finish from Tomane.
Lyon have gone close on a few occasions through Mvuemba and Ferri, but Vitoria also had what seemed a certain second goal cleared off the line.
The teams are back out and ready for the second half.
KICK OFF! Vitoria, playing to the right, get the game back underway.
SAVE! Early attempt on goal in the second half from Gomis, but Doulas can make the save.
SAVE! Wonderful stop from Douglas! Zeffane hits a long-range effort from the left which looks to be dipping into the far corner, but Douglas flies through the air and pushes the shot away.
Lyon have started this second half in very positive fashion.
Should be 2-0! Malonga puts a great low cross in from the left of the box across the face of the six-yard area that is just begging for a teammate to pile it into the net, but Tomane cannot reach it.
CLOSE! Now Malonga goes close after smashing a half-volley inside the box from a corner, but Zeffane can head it off the line.
What a hectic opening nine minutes of the second half. This is more like it!
YELLOW CARD Pedro Correia goes into the book for fouling Danic.
OFF THE BAR AND DISALLOWED! Lyon can't come much closer. Zeffane hits another superb long-range strike which cannons off the crossbar, and comes back to Plea, who nods it into an empty net, but is deemed offside.
PENALTY TO LYON AND A RED CARD!
Pedro Correia is off after being suckered into a lunging challenge by Gourcuff, who is brought down. Red card Vitoria, and a penalty for Lyon.
GOAL! Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-1 Lyon (Bafetimbi Gomis)
Gomis blasts it straight down the middle, and Lyon will now play with an extra man for the last 27 minutes of this match. Can they take advantage?
LYON CHANGE Gomis is replaced by Yassine Benzia.
GOAL! Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-2 Lyon (Jordan Ferri)
And just like that, Lyon lead! It's a great finish from Ferri. The cross is headed away by Vitoria, but only as far as Ferri. He chests it down, turns inside on his marker and pings a shot into the bottom left corner. Great goal, and it didn't take Lyon long to make the most of their advantage.
SAVE! Vitoria almost find an instant leveller as Addy curls a free kick from the right off the box with his left foot that is heading for the near top corner, but Lopes flies over and pushes it away for a corner, which comes to nothing.
VITORIA CHANGE Plange is on for Malonga.
LYON CHANGE Plea has been replaced by Njie.
As things stand, Lyon are heading through as group winners.
VITORIA CHANGE Crivellaro has been replaced by Maazou.
Nearly a chance for Lyon to add another as Benzia heads a ross over, but he is flagged offside anyway.
LYON CHANGE Ferri, scorer of what looks to be the winner, is taken off and replaced by Sidy Kone.
YELLOW CARD Paulo Oliveira is booked for a late challenge on the touchline.
OFF THE POST! Plange comes fractions from a leveller as he skips past a number of players but hits the post.
YELLOW CARDS Moreno and Bisevac are involved in a bit of a scrap, and are both booked for their troubles.
OFF THE POST! Unbelievably, Vitoria hit the woodwork again. This time it's Freire who is desperately unlucky.
There will be three added minutes.
FULL TIME: Vitoria de Guimaraes 1-2 Lyon
There you have it. Lyon go through thanks to goals from Gomis and Ferri after Tomane had put Vitoria ahead in a match that saw them have Pedro Correia sent off.
That's it from me, I hope you enjoyed the game. Until the next time, good night.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
