FC Nantes welcomed Olympique Lyonnais to Stade de la Beaujoire on February 7, 2026, in a Ligue 1 showdown that pitted two teams on very different trajectories. Lyon arrived in Nantes riding an electrifying 11-match winning streak across all competitions, eager to notch their 12th consecutive victory and solidify their place in the league’s upper echelon. Nantes, meanwhile, were desperate to reverse a troubling run of three straight defeats that had left them hovering in the relegation playoff spot. The stakes were high, and the tension in the stadium was palpable from the opening whistle.
It’s been a season of transition for Nantes, marked by significant changes during the winter transfer window. The departure of Junior Mwanga, who returned to his parent club RC Strasbourg Alsace, left a gap in defense that was quickly filled by loanee Abakar Sylla. However, Sylla was expected to start the match on the bench, with Ali Youssif—fresh off his debut in the previous week’s 2-1 loss to FC Lorient—getting the nod in the starting lineup. The return of Deiver Machado from injury was a welcome boost, adding both experience and energy to a side in need of inspiration. Nantes’ likely lineup included Anthony Lopes in goal, with Machado, Tylel Tati, Youssif, Kelvin Amian Adou, and Fabien Centonze forming the back line. The midfield featured Mohamed Kaba and Johann Lepenant, while the attacking trio was comprised of Matthis Abline, Mostafa Mohamed, and Rémy Cabella.
Lyon, by contrast, were brimming with confidence. Sitting fourth in Ligue 1 at kickoff, they had outscored their opponents 33-20 over the course of the season, boasting a +13 goal differential—good for fourth-best in the league. Their defense had been particularly stingy, conceding just 20 goals, third fewest in Ligue 1. Offensively, Lyon’s Pavel Sulc had emerged as a key figure, leading the team with eight goals in 18 appearances. Abner, another attacking threat, had chipped in with three goals from just four shots, demonstrating remarkable efficiency. Tyler Morton, orchestrating play from midfield, led Lyon with 23 chances created and two assists.
Nantes, meanwhile, had struggled to find the back of the net, ranking 16th in goals scored with just 19 (an average of one per game). Defensively, they’d been porous, conceding 36 goals—1.8 per match—leaving them with a daunting -17 goal differential. Matthis Abline was the club’s leading scorer with four goals in 20 games, while Youssef El Arabi, despite limited opportunities, had proven clinical, netting three times from just four shots on target. Abline also led Nantes in chances created with 15, underscoring his all-around importance to the team’s attack.
The match itself unfolded as a tense, hard-fought affair. Lyon struck first and ultimately struck last, with Pavel Sulc delivering the decisive blow. In the first half, Sulc found the top right corner with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, assisted by Afonso Moreira following a corner. That goal would prove to be the difference, as Nantes battled valiantly but couldn’t find the equalizer.
Nantes had their chances, particularly in a dramatic second half that saw them push forward with urgency. Youssef El Arabi, brought on as a substitute for Mostafa Mohamed, nearly changed the narrative. In the 80th minute, El Arabi’s header from the center of the box was brilliantly saved by Lyon’s Dominik Greif. Moments later, El Arabi rattled the left post with another header, coming agonizingly close to leveling the score. He also forced Greif into a low save with a left-footed shot late in the game. Despite these efforts, the breakthrough never came.
Discipline was a recurring theme throughout the contest, with the referee’s whistle punctuating the action. Matthis Abline, Mohamed Kaba, Ali Youssif, and Kelvin Amian all found their names in the referee’s book for Nantes, while Lyon’s Endrick saw red for violent conduct after a VAR review upgraded his card. The nine minutes of added time in the second half only heightened the drama, but Lyon’s defense held firm under the late barrage.
The statistics told a story of two teams with contrasting fortunes. Lyon’s 1.7 goals per game and 10.2 shots per match reflected their attacking prowess, while Nantes’ 1.0 goals and 8.0 shots per game highlighted their ongoing struggles. Lyon’s superior pass completion rate (90.5% to Nantes’ 86.1%) and greater number of crosses attempted (433 to 335) further underscored their dominance in possession and creativity.
For Nantes, the defeat extended their losing streak to four matches, following earlier setbacks against Paris FC (2-1), Nice (4-1), and Lorient (2-1). The loss left them rooted in 16th place, their hopes of climbing out of the relegation zone growing ever more urgent. Coach and players alike will be under pressure to turn things around quickly, with tough fixtures against AS Monaco, Le Havre AC, and Lille looming on the horizon.
Lyon, meanwhile, continued their remarkable run, making it 12 straight victories in all competitions. Their recent wins over Stade Brest 29 (2-1), FC Metz (5-2), and Lille (1-0) had already signaled their intent, and the narrow triumph in Nantes only added to their momentum. The victory kept them firmly in the hunt for a top-three finish and a coveted Champions League spot, with upcoming clashes against Nice, Strasbourg, and Olympique Marseille offering further opportunities to cement their status as one of Ligue 1’s elite.
After the final whistle, the sense of frustration was evident among the Nantes faithful. Francis Coquelin’s late miss, Abakar Sylla’s header sailing over the bar, and the close calls from El Arabi all combined to leave the home side empty-handed. Yet, there were glimmers of hope: the return of Deiver Machado, the promising play of Ali Youssif, and the continued threat posed by Abline and El Arabi. If Nantes can build on these positives and tighten up defensively, there’s still time to steer clear of the drop.
For Lyon, the night belonged to Pavel Sulc, whose goal proved decisive, and to a collective defensive effort that withstood everything Nantes could throw at them. The visitors’ discipline, organization, and clinical finishing were the hallmarks of a team in top form—and with their winning streak intact, Lyon’s ambitions show no sign of slowing down.
The Ligue 1 campaign rolls on, but for now, Olympique Lyonnais can savor another hard-earned win, while FC Nantes are left searching for answers and a way back to winning ways.