Olympique Lyonnais stormed into 2026 with a statement victory, dispatching Monaco 3-1 at the Stade Louis II on January 3 in a match that offered everything from sublime goals to dramatic red cards. For Lyon, it was a much-needed boost and their first win of the new year, while Monaco were left licking their wounds after a tumultuous afternoon that saw them finish with ten men.
Pavel Sulc was the undisputed star of the show, bagging a decisive brace and earning man-of-the-match honors with a performance that will be remembered by Lyon fans for quite some time. The Czech forward opened the scoring in the 38th minute, showing razor-sharp instincts to steer home Nicolás Tagliafico’s cross from a corner routine. That early breakthrough was the result of Lyon’s aggressive approach, with their full-backs pushing high and Sulc exploiting the gaps between Monaco’s center-backs.
But Monaco weren’t about to roll over on their home turf. Just before the halftime whistle, Mamadou Coulibaly brought the crowd to life with a thunderous equalizer, latching onto a clever ball from Folarin Balogun. For a moment, it looked like the hosts might seize control, as momentum appeared to shift in their favor. Balogun, always a threat, was a rare bright spot for the home side, consistently probing Lyon’s defense and providing the crucial assist for Coulibaly’s goal.
The second half, however, belonged entirely to Les Gones. Sulc struck again in the 57th minute, this time with a spectacular right-footed drive from outside the box that left Monaco’s substitute goalkeeper Philipp Köhn rooted to the spot. The assist came from Ainsley Maitland-Niles, whose composure on the ball and 92% pass accuracy underlined his importance to the Lyon cause. Sulc’s second goal was not just a moment of individual brilliance; it was the turning point that broke Monaco’s resistance and set the tone for the rest of the match.
As Monaco pressed forward in search of another equalizer, disaster struck. In the 70th minute, Coulibaly—who had been a hero just moments earlier—saw red for a reckless challenge. The straight red card left Monaco a man down and effectively ended their hopes of a comeback. According to Sportsdunia, "Mamadou Coulibaly went from hero to absolute zero. He scored a fantastic goal to bring his team level, a moment of real quality. But his straight red card for a reckless challenge was inexcusable. That moment of madness completely cost his team any chance of getting back into the match."
Lyon wasted little time capitalizing on their numerical advantage. Abner Vinicius, who had been a constant threat on the wing, put the result beyond doubt in the 79th minute, slotting home Lyon’s third goal and capping off a dominant team performance. Abner’s energy and attacking intent were rewarded, as he finished the match with a solid 7.5 rating and a goal that was, as Sportsdunia put it, "the cherry on top for Lyon."
The match was not without its setbacks, especially for Monaco. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was forced off with an injury just 15 minutes in, leading to an early substitution that unsettled the back line. Thilo Kehrer, the Monaco captain, struggled to contain Lyon’s fluid attack and was booked early, while Caio Henrique lost possession a staggering 20 times. Mohammed Salisu was perhaps the most composed of the Monaco defenders, but even he couldn’t stem the tide as Lyon’s relentless pressing and quick transitions carved open the home defense time and again.
In midfield, Corentin Tolisso wore the captain’s armband for Lyon and led by example. He created four key passes and drove his team forward with passion and grit, earning himself a 7.5 rating for a true leader’s performance. Tyler Morton, the quiet orchestrator, boasted a near-perfect 98% pass accuracy and made four crucial interceptions, providing the platform for Lyon’s more creative players to shine. Khalis Merah, too, contributed a tidy performance before being substituted, offering width and a dangerous cross that nearly led to another goal.
For Monaco, Aleksandr Golovin looked lively in the first half and forced a good save from Lyon’s Dominik Greif, but his influence faded as the match wore on. Maghnes Akliouche and Mika Biereth both struggled to impose themselves, with Biereth especially anonymous up front. The home side’s woes were compounded by a lack of cohesion in midfield, where J. Teze was overrun and unable to match Lyon’s intensity.
Manager P. Rodrigues Fonseca earned plaudits for his tactical acumen, setting up Lyon to be both defensively solid and lethal on the counterattack. His substitutions were timely and helped manage the game after his team went ahead, earning him an 8.0 rating from Sportsdunia. On the opposite side, S. Pocognoli had a day to forget, hampered by injuries and unable to find answers to Lyon’s dominance. His side’s lack of defensive organization and midfield control left them vulnerable, and the red card to Coulibaly was the final nail in the coffin.
Amid all the on-field drama, Lyon’s recent transfer activity also made headlines. Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso weighed in on Endrick’s loan move to Lyon, saying, "At this stage of his career, he needs to play, and I understand why the club wanted to invest in him for the medium term so he can develop. If that allows him to grow as a player... Real Madrid is doing the right thing. I understand Bobby, and we'll be following him very closely." Endrick had been limited to just three appearances for Real Madrid in the first half of the season, and his move to Lyon is seen as a critical step in his development.
Looking ahead, Lyon will carry this momentum into their upcoming Coupe de France clash with Lille, while Monaco must regroup quickly before traveling to Orléans in the same competition and then hosting Lorient in Ligue 1. For Lyon, the victory not only marks a promising start to 2026 but also signals their intent to climb up the Ligue 1 table. With Sulc in red-hot form and a strong supporting cast, Les Gones have every reason to be optimistic. As for Monaco, the challenge now is to recover from this blow and rediscover the resilience that made them contenders earlier in the campaign.
With the Ligue 1 season heating up, both teams have plenty to play for. But on a chilly January night in Monaco, it was Lyon—and especially Pavel Sulc—who stole the spotlight and set the tone for what could be a thrilling second half of the season.