Olympique Lyonnais beat AJ Auxerre 3-1 at the Parc OL on Friday, September 4, 2026, moving up to second place in Ligue 1 after a dominant display in the competition's third round.
Felix Bacher put Lyon ahead in the 28th minute, and Zachary Athekame doubled the lead three minutes later. Cameron Archer pulled one back for Auxerre before halftime, but Ernest Nuamah restored Lyon's two-goal cushion early in the second half to make it 3-1 in front of 36,278 spectators at the Parc OL, Lyon's stadium in Decines-Charpieu.
How the Goals Went In
Bacher's opener came from a corner. Ernest Nuamah's delivery from the left found the Austrian recruit, whose header beat Auxerre goalkeeper Diop after a slight deflection off Elyikia Legros.
Three minutes later, Abner surged down the left flank and Loïs Openda laid the ball off for Zachary Athekame, the Swiss right-back signed from AC Milan, who finished with a right-footed strike from the edge of the area to make it 2-0.
Auxerre struck back just before the break. Cameron Archer dribbled past Bacher inside the penalty area and beat Lyon goalkeeper Greif from close range to make it 2-1, the score at halftime.
Nuamah Seals the Win
Lyon put the game beyond doubt in the 53rd minute. Pavel Sulc found Ernest Nuamah in a crowded box, and the Ghanaian forward weaved past defenders to create an angle before finishing left-footed for 3-1.
The goal had been coming. Lyon had earlier seen a goal by Openda ruled out for offside in the 20th minute, confirmed after a video review, for what was described as a marginal offside by a knee.
Chances at Both Ends
Lyon goalkeeper Greif saved a shot from Auxerre left-back Akpa in the 49th minute. Lyon made two changes in the 67th minute, bringing on Boudache and Merah for Nuamah and Sulc, before Tanner Tessmann replaced Bidstrup in the 75th minute.
Auxerre's Lamine Sy crossed for Cameron Archer, whose header in the 72nd minute went narrowly wide. At the other end, Boudache struck the crossbar in the 88th minute from a Khalis Merah cross, and four minutes earlier Openda chose to shoot rather than square the ball to a better-placed Tessmann, only for his effort to be blocked by Auxerre's Makosso.
A Difficult Start to the Season for Lyon
The win offered relief for Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca. His side had opened the season with a 2-0 win at Toulouse before losing 1-2 to Turkish club Fenerbahçe in the Champions League playoff, a result that sent Lyon into the Europa League instead. A 1-1 draw with Le Havre followed, along with the departure of winger Malick Fofana as the transfer window closed.
Pavel Sulc, who stayed at the club through the summer window, started the match for Lyon. French international Corentin Tolisso, Lyon's captain, again led the side out.
Fofana's Exit and Nakamura's Absence
Malick Fofana posted a farewell message on social media on the afternoon of the match, confirming his departure from Lyon.
Lyon's newest signing, Japan international Keito Nakamura, who joined from Stade de Reims, was not yet eligible to play in this third-round fixture.
Tension Around the Parc OL
The match was played amid heightened tension after two assault incidents near the Parc OL in the aftermath of Lyon's previous home game, a 1-1 draw with Le Havre, six days earlier. Authorities are investigating whether the attacks were racially motivated.
Auxerre's Troubled Start
The defeat leaves Auxerre bottom of Ligue 1 without a point after three matches, having conceded 11 goals in that span.
