On December 22, 2024, the Top 14 witnessed its first draw of the season as Toulouse faced off against Lyon at the Matmut Stadium. The thrilling encounter ended with both teams sharing the spoils at 17-17, leaving both sides with mixed feelings about the result.
The match kicked off with high expectations, especially for Toulouse, who were determined to reclaim their position at the top of the league standings. Early on, Toulouse struck first; Paul Graou executed a quick penalty to pave the way for the first try of the match, scored by Théo Ntamack. This brought the score to 7-3 just ten minutes after the whistle.
But Lyon was quick to respond, leveraging their home advantage. Star player Léo Berdeu deftly converted two penalties, allowing Lyon to take the lead 9-7 by the 19th minute, displaying their fighting spirit. Just before the half-time break, Monty Ioane solidified Lyon's lead with a try, catching the Toulouse defense off guard and bringing the score to 14-7.
Toulouse, coming off several strong performances, needed to regain composure after the half-time talk. And they did just so. Léo Berdeu, who had been instrumental for Lyon, extended the lead to ten points with another penalty early in the second half (17-7).
Yet, the tides began to shift when Lyon's Steeve Blanc-Mappaz received a yellow card, leaving his team temporarily at a numerical disadvantage. Seizing the opportunity, Toulouse mounted pressure, with Théo Ntamack scoring another try and leveling the match at 17-17.
The last ten minutes were tense, with both teams pushing hard for victory. Lyon, who had higher stakes, missed two golden opportunities to secure the win through penalties, with Berdeu uncharacteristically faltering at the posts. "C'est une série de cinq défaites de rang qui s’achève ce dimanche soir," said one commentator about Lyon’s previous struggles, capturing the precarious position they found themselves transitioning out of.
Despite the missed chances, Anthony Jelonch expressed pride for his team’s effort, stating, "Tout le monde s’est envoyé comme des lions" after the match. He reflected on the hard-fought nature of the match and the performance of younger players who stepped up during this intense encounter.
The end result saw Toulouse relinquishing their lead to union Bordeaux-Bègles and dropping to second place, whereas Lyon, having escaped the relegation zone, climbed to eleventh—still not where they wanted to be but showing signs of improvement.
Both teams faced challenges moving forward. Toulouse knew they needed to refine their discipline and focus to maintain competitive momentum. On the other hand, Lyon walked away knowing they had, at least, halted their losing streak but also realizing they had let what could have been their first victory under coach Karim Ghezal slip away.
The match was saturated with drama and intensity, with each side showcasing powerful waves of offense coupled with moments of defensive brilliance. This nail-biting draw both grounded Toulouse’s aspirations for the title and breathed new life for Lyon as they enter the next fixtures of the Top 14.
Next up, both teams will look to build on this draw; Lyon is set to face tough opponents, and Toulouse will need to sort out their strategy if they hope to regain their previous stronghold.
