Olympique Lyonnais secured a solid 3-1 victory over FCSB on March 6, 2025, during the first leg of the Europa League round of 16, making significant strides toward the quarter-finals of the competition.
The match, held at the National Arena in Romania, showcased Lyon's early dominance, but it wasn’t smooth sailing from the start. The visitors began tentatively as FCSB’s David Miculescu nearly capitalized on a defensive error from Moussa Niakhate, only to be thwarted by Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri.
Perri, who made several key saves throughout the match, first kept the score level by tipping Malcom Edjouma’s header over the bar. Moments later, he produced another stunning save, denying Siyabonga Nguezana’s close-range effort. Despite this early scare, Lyon gradually took control of the game.
Georges Mikautadze proved to be a thorn in FCSB’s defense, continuously threatening with his pace and skill. He was instrumental when he sent over a superb cross to Nicolas Tagliafico, who netted the opener with a well-placed downward header.
After the goal, Lyon continued their pressure, with several attempts forcing FCSB goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu to make pivotal saves, including denying Mikautadze and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. But just as Lyon seemed poised to extend their lead, FCSB struck back. Substitute Alexandru Baluta unexpectedly equalized, controlling Risto Radunovic's cross before firing past Perri.
But Lyon’s resilience shone through. Just five minutes from time, Malick Fofana netted his fifth goal of the European campaign, putting Lyon back on top with a tidy finish from inside the box. The visitors sealed their victory when Fofana added another, capitalizing on defensive chaos to slot the ball home, ensuring Lyon maintained their unbeaten head-to-head record against FCSB.
Flashscore awarded Fofana the Man of the Match honor for his prolific performance, which included two goals and constant pressure on the FCSB defense.
Prior to the match, FCSB defender Adrian Slut cautioned against underestimations from Lyon, urging respect for their Romanian opposition. On game day, FCSB delivered resilience, seemingly fueling their strikers to keep pressure on Lyon's backline.
Despite some promising moments, Lyon's superior experience and tactical excellence saw them head home with the advantage. Coach Paulo Fonseca reiterated the importance of discipline as Lyon gets prepared for the decisive second leg.
Looking forward, the return leg will be pivotal for both teams as Lyon seeks to solidify their place among the European elite.