Olympique Lyonnais secured a 2-1 victory over Racing Club de Strasbourg in the ninth matchday of Ligue 1 at Groupama Stadium. Despite an early goal from Joaquin Panichelli, Lyon equalized from the penalty spot and snatched the win in added time courtesy of Afonso Moreira. The expulsion of Ismaël Doukouré for a serious foul on Malick Fofana defined the match.
The clash between Olympique Lyonnais and Racing Club de Strasbourg was intense and crucial for Ligue 1 standings. At the 25th minute, Joaquin Panichelli opened the scoring for Strasbourg with an unstoppable header from Guéla Doué's cross, his third assist of the season (0-1). The Argentine, formerly with Deportivo Mirandés, has now tallied 10 headed goals since last season, the best in Europe's top five leagues, and leads the Ligue 1 scoring charts with 8 goals ahead of Mason Greenwood's 7.
In the first half, Corentin Tolisso won a penalty after a foul by Valentín Barco, but Mike Penders, the 20-year-old Belgian goalkeeper on loan from Chelsea and standing 2 meters tall, saved it at the 42nd minute, though the shot was not ideally struck (1-1). Penders also made a key stop against Lukáš Sulc in the 13th minute.
The turning point came at the 69th minute: Ismaël Doukouré committed a violent foul on Malick Fofana, who left on a stretcher, potentially with an ankle sprain per RMC Sport, with his absence duration unknown. Initially shown a yellow, Doukouré was sent off after VAR review, leaving Strasbourg with ten men.
Subbing in for Fofana, Afonso Moreira delivered for Lyon in added time. At the 90+1st minute, the Portuguese winger beat his marker and struck right-footed into the far bottom corner past Penders (2-1), his first league goal for the club. Tolisso, despite visible frustration – including a yellow in a tussle with Diego Moreira – can celebrate: Lyon climbs to 4th place with 18 points.
This win solidifies OL's top-table position, while Strasbourg pays dearly for Doukouré's dismissal, with his disciplinary sanction pending.