Fenerbahçe's Lyon victory in the French press: 'Great disappointment' and Guendouzi tension

Fenerbahçe's 2-1 away victory over Lyon in the UEFA Champions League play-off round, which secured their place in the league phase, has resonated widely in France. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Istanbul, Lyon, seeking an advantage at home, was eliminated from the tournament following the defeat, while the Yellow-Canaries returned to the Champions League after 18 years.

In the match in Lyon, the goals that brought the qualification to Fenerbahçe came from Vedat Muriqi in the 24th minute and Archie Brown in the 28th minute. Although the hosts reduced the deficit with Malick Fofana in the 61st minute, they could not turn the score around in the remaining time. Lois Openda's goal in the 64th minute was disallowed for offside, while Kail Boudache's goal in the 71st minute was also ruled invalid after a VAR review due to a foul at the start of the play.

COMMON EMPHASIS IN THE FRENCH PRESS: LYON'S FRAGILITY

The common assessment in the French press was that Lyon once again failed to show sufficient reaction at critical thresholds. L'Équipe headlined the defeat as "Great disappointment," writing that Lyon remained passive in defense and missed out on a Champions League ticket after two disallowed goals.

The newspaper's analysis pointed to the fragility experienced by Lyon under the management of head coach Paulo Fonseca in big matches. Referring to missed opportunities against Manchester United, Celta Vigo, and Lens, it was stated that the Fenerbahçe tie was another failure that could have serious consequences for the club.

Eurosport France commented on the match with the phrase "A wake-up call that came too late." According to the broadcaster, Lyon struggled to get into the game in the first half, while Fenerbahçe took control in the early stages and deserved their lead with goals from Muriqi and Brown. Foot Mercato reported that the Yellow-Canaries started more aggressively and exploited the gaps, especially on the right side of the Lyon defense.

Lyon-based Le Progrès highlighted the assessment that "Fenerbahçe shattered Lyon's dream," while Le Parisien wrote that explaining the defeat solely with the disallowed goals would be insufficient. The newspaper emphasized that despite the support of nearly 50,000 fans and the draw in the first leg, Lyon failed to pass another major test.

GUENDOUZI TENSION AT THE END OF THE MATCH

The tension on the pitch and in the locker room corridor after the match was also on the agenda of the French press. A scuffle broke out between players of the two teams after Fenerbahçe's French player Matteo Guendouzi shouted "Allez l'OM" in front of the Lyon stands and performed the gesture of the Marseille rapper Jul.

Guendouzi later argued that Lyon fans had insulted his family throughout the match. Speaking on the Canal+ broadcast, Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso said that his national team teammate Guendouzi should have celebrated the victory with his own team and acted more humbly.

So Foot, in an analysis by Enzo Leanni, addressed Lyon's elimination as a new link in the decline over the last six years. The magazine wrote that Fenerbahçe established superiority in duels and second balls, while Lyon players could not provide a sufficient response throughout the match.

The general picture in the French press was that Fenerbahçe secured the qualification not only with the score but also with their physical superiority and resilience during the critical moments of the match. On the Lyon side, the missed Champions League opportunity, disallowed goals, defensive weaknesses, and post-match tension became topics that will be discussed for a long time.