UEFA Europa League Gameweek 1
Anderlecht 1 - 2 FT Lyon
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Futmetrix Verdict
52
FT
Thu, Oct 22
Bournemouth
3-0
AC Milan
⚡ Intensity
75
⚖️ Balance
20
🏆 Stakes
3
🎲 Upset
0
Two penalties, one red card, total control
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
N. Nartey 8'
K. Nakamura (M. Ouedraogo) 22'
Moussa Niakhaté 26'
HT
↓ M. Ouedraogo ↑N. Tagliafico 46'
↓ M. Niakhate ↑F. Bacher 46'
46' ↓ R. Amane ↑M. Kana
61' M. Cvetkovic (A. Maamar)
↓ L. Openda ↑P. Sulc 65'
↓ T. Morton ↑C. Tolisso 74'
74' ↓ L. Ambros ↑D. Sikan
↓ N. Nartey ↑M. Bidstrup 74'
74' ↓ T. Aasgaard ↑T. Bentayeb
85' ↓ M. Cvetkovic ↑O. Antman
90'+2 ↓ L. Augustinsson ↑N. Ojea
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Anderlecht
Goalkeepers
Colin Coosemans 
MAGNET
54
Activity
54
Activity
53
Passes
1
Duels
Defenders
Ali Maamar 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
31%
Pass Acc
Andrew Omobamidele 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
2
Tackles
78%
Duel Win %
Léo Pétrot 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ludwig Augustinsson 
STORMTROOPER
1
Shots
1
Shots
0
Goals
0
On Target
Midfielders
Lukáš Ambros 
PROVOCATEUR
4
Fouls Won
4
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Enric Llansana
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Romeo Amané
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Marten Winkler
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
3
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
Mihajlo Cvetković 
FINISHER
1
Goals
1
Goals
3
Shots
7.7
Rating
Thelo Aasgaard
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
74
Total Mins
74
Entry
BENCH
Justin Heekeren 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Oleg Reabciuk
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kaïs Barry
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marco Kana
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
47
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mario Stroeykens
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Kalonji Kafumpata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Nga Kana
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tristan Degreef
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N. Ojea
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tawfik Bentayeb
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Oliver Antman
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
7
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Danylo Sikan
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lyon
Goalkeepers
Rémy Descamps
PROVOCATEUR
1
Fouls Won
1
Fouls Won
1
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Defenders
Ruben Kluivert
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
3
Tackles
50%
Duel Win %
Clinton Mata
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Moussa Niakhaté
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
45
Total Mins
46
Entry
Mohamed Ouedraogo
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
1
Assists
14%
Pass Acc
Midfielders
Tanner Tessmann
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Tyler Morton
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
8
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Noah Teye Nartey 
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
Forwards
Kaïl Boudache
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
92
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Loïs Openda
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
65
Total Mins
65
Entry
Keito Nakamura
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
BENCH
Dominik Greif
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Justin Bengui
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Zachary Athekame
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Nicolás Tagliafico
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
47
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Felix Bacher
PROVOCATEUR
2
Fouls Won
2
Fouls Won
4
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Corentin Tolisso
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mads Bidstrup
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
18
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kiliane Merah
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pavel Šulc
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ernest Nuamah
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rémi Himbert
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Julien Duranville
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
League Standings
League Standings
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +6
P: 2 GD: +5
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +4
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +3
P: 2 GD: +2
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: +1
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: 0
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -1
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -2
P: 2 GD: -3
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -4
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -5
P: 2 GD: -5
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Anderlecht
Lyon
Anderlecht
Lyon
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Lyon's Early Ambush Stuns Anderlecht in Brussels
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 36/100. An explosive opening twenty-two minutes from the visitors proved decisive, securing three massive away points despite a resilient second-half siege.
Lightning Strikes Twice at Lotto Park
The atmosphere at Lotto Park was electric, but it was barely settled when Lyon ruthlessly tore up the script. The French side brought a blistering level of Intensity to the opening exchanges, immediately putting their hosts on the back foot. It took a mere eight minutes for N. Nartey to set a definitive tone, firing a brilliant opener to silence the notoriously vocal home crowd. The visitors simply refused to let up, executing their tactical game plan with devastating precision on the counter. Before the Belgian giants could even process the early setback, K. Nakamura doubled the advantage in the 22nd minute. He calmly finished off a slick passing sequence elegantly orchestrated by M. Ouedraogo. Though Anderlecht eventually controlled possession, holding 58% of the ball by the final whistle, they found themselves completely outmaneuvered and defensively exposed during a frantic, defining first half.
A Goalkeeping Masterclass
Facing a daunting two-goal deficit against a rampant attacking front, the home side risked a total collapse as the visitors continued to aggressively pepper the target. This was the exact moment the Balance of the tie rested entirely on the broad shoulders of Colin Coosemans. The Anderlecht shot-stopper delivered an absolute masterclass between the posts, pulling off eight crucial saves to miraculously keep his team breathing. The away side was incredibly direct and efficient, eventually forcing 10 of their 13 total shots squarely on target. Without Coosemans acting as a defiant one-man wall, the European clash would have quickly spiraled into a humiliating blowout. His exceptional heroics provided the essential foundation for a desperately needed tactical shift, allowing his beleaguered teammates to finally push up the pitch and apply some genuine sustained pressure in the second half.
A Desperate Final Push Falls Short
The Stakes rose dramatically just past the hour mark. In the 61st minute, Mihajlo Cvetković spectacularly breathed life back into the contest. Capitalizing on a sudden lapse in the French defense, he hammered home a crucial lifeline to make it 2-1. A barrage of 26 combined shots turned the pitch into an absolute shooting gallery, with an impressive 15 of those testing the keepers on both ends. The Belgian side threw absolutely everything forward in the dying stages, forcing a series of tense late corners as they desperately hunted for a dramatic equalizer. However, the early structural damage was simply too severe to repair. The visitors dug incredibly deep, professionally absorbing the late wave of pressure to grind out a gritty, hard-fought victory away from home. The result leaves the hosts bitterly ruing their sluggish start.
Key Questions
Who scored the goals for Lyon in this match?
N. Nartey opened the scoring in the 8th minute, followed by K. Nakamura's decisive strike in the 22nd minute.
How many saves did Colin Coosemans make?
Anderlecht's goalkeeper Colin Coosemans put on a phenomenal display, recording 8 crucial saves to keep his team in the match.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
A Quiet Start in Brussels
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 80/100. Opening night rarely defines a European campaign, and this fixture lacks the immediate urgency to demand your full attention.
The Setup
On September 16, 2026, the UEFA Europa League kicks off under the lights at Lotto Park. Anderlecht host Lyon in the first round of the new league stage format. It is early days. A low Stakes rating reflects the lack of immediate jeopardy, though neither side wants to lose ground in the race for a top-eight direct qualification spot. Lyon bring a modest Stars rating to Belgium. They boast heavy hitters like Endrick, L. Openda, and G. Mikautadze. Anderlecht counter with a structured collective effort, knowing they face an uphill battle against a stronger roster.
Key Battle
We are watching Lyon's stacked attacking unit against the Anderlecht defensive line. The French side possesses multiple transitional threats. If the home defense sits too deep, they invite relentless pressure. If they push high, they risk getting exposed by sheer pace on the counter.
Our Prediction
Lyon take this 2-0. The away side's quality in the final third will eventually break down the Belgian resistance. Expect a slow first half before Lyon exploit tiring legs in the final thirty minutes to secure the points.