Yahoo Sports PLAYER RATINGS | Qarabag 1-4 Lyon: Georges Mikautadze’s brace secures convincing win for Les Gones
After two matches without a victory in Europe, Lyon travelled to Azerbaijan hoping to re-find their form from the start of the UEFA Europa League phase, which saw them win their first three matches.
Despite being favourites on paper, OL struggled to gain a foothold in the game during the opening stages. Qarabag started the match positively and played like a side with the intention of finding the back of the net first. However, against the run of play, the Rhône club would open the scoring.
Following a swift counter-attacking move, Georges Mikautadze found the back of the net for his boyhood club in the 15th minute. Maitland-Niles started the move with a skilful pass to free Cherki into space who then found Nuamah on the right flank. The Ghanaian played a cutback into the box and the Georgian international was waiting to turn the ball home.
This was the first half’s only goal as Lyon went in with a one-goal lead. The Azerbaijani outfit were left feeling sorry for themselves after being the dominant force in the opening 45 minutes and going close to scoring on more than one occasion – hitting the frame of the goal twice.
The visitors came out with more positivity in the second half and their threat of grabbing a second goal increased. This almost came through the aid of a Benzia who headed Ćaleta-Car’s header onto his crossbar. In spite of Les Gones’ increased threat, Qarabag still carried their own and Juninho went close once again to leveling the match soon after OL hit the crossbar at the other end of the pitch. Lucas Perri denied him.
Tolisso, who replaced Nuamah at the break, made his impact felt with a superb strike. The World Cup winner hit the ball from 25 yards in acres of space and his shot flew into the top corner to double the Ligue 1 outfit’s lead. On the counter-attack again, Lyon made it three. Benrahma held his run well and picked out Fofana in the area to send it home with a simple finish.
With the game all but won, momentum swang in favour of Lyon and they complied the misery of the hosts with a fourth. Mikautadze scored a brace after excellently controlling Maitland-Niles’ cross to beat his man and then calmly chip the goalkeeper.
Merely an opportunity for a consolation goal, Qarabag were awarded a penalty in the final 5 minutes. Juninho stepped up and hit the post but the hosts were fortuitous as the ball bounced off Perri’s back into his own goal. Unlucky for the Lyon stopper.
Lyon player ratings:
Lucas Perri: 6
Ainsley Maitland-Niles: 6
Warmed Omari: 5
Duje Ćaleta-Car: 7 – Busy throughout the night given the attacking intent of the hosts, the Croatian proved to be important on more than one occasion for OL with multiple defensive interventions at vital times. The presence of the former Marseille defender offered reassurance to his defensive partner, Omari, who is short on minutes.
Nicolás Tagliafico: 5
Jordan Veretout: 4
Tanner Tessmann: 4
Ernest Nuamah: 5
Rayan Cherki: 6
Malick Fofana: 7
Georges Mikautadze: 8 – Scoring his third and fourth goals since returning to Lyon, the striker made the most of the limited service that was provided to him in the first half and then in the second half showed calm and poise to dink the goalkeeper. Overall, the Georgian international’s play was positive and the striker continues to look more and more acclimatised to his new club after a difficult start.
