Lyon began their return to Ligue 1 with a 2-0 victory at Toulouse, avoiding a third consecutive league defeat for the first time since December 2023 after substitutes Noah Nartey and Malick Fofana struck in the second half.
Toulouse had made the stronger start and came close to taking the lead on several occasions. Last season’s top scorer Yann Gboho fired over after a rapid counter-attack, while Julian Vignolo then sent an effort wide after being played through.
Vignolo went even closer soon afterwards when his deflected shot struck the post. Thomas Jorgensen, Toulouse’s club-record signing, also saw his effort cleared off the line as the hosts applied sustained pressure.
Lyon were second best for much of the opening period, although Kail Boudache curled narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area before the visitors went into the interval level.
The pace of the match dropped at the start of the second half, with chances again at a premium. Rasmus Nicolaisen headed over the crossbar, while Boudache missed the target from outside the box for a second time.
Jorgensen produced one of Toulouse’s most eye-catching moments when he embarked on a mazy run that left defenders on the ground. However, his eventual finish lacked precision and flew well wide.
Lyon then made the breakthrough with their first shot on target, taking the lead against the run of play. Substitute Pavel Sulc found Noah Nartey on the edge of the box, and Nartey struck first time into the bottom corner with an excellent finish.
Toulouse were unable to recover, and Lyon looked increasingly likely to add a second goal in the closing stages. They eventually did so when Malick Fofana curled a fine effort into the far corner after being released by a precise pass from Corentin Tolisso.
From that point, the final stages became a procession as Lyon saw out the victory and ended Toulouse’s unbeaten start to 2025/26. Jens Berthel Askou’s tenure as Toulouse manager therefore began with defeat, despite Les Violets having gone four matches unbeaten in the campaign before this game, recording two wins and two draws.
The result also ended a remarkable run for Toulouse in their opening Ligue 1 fixtures. It was their first defeat in 19 seasons, following 14 wins and four draws during that period.
There will be few more demanding opponents than Lyon, who finished fourth last season, but the hosts will take encouragement from their performance before conceding twice.
For Lyon, the result provides an important boost before their second-leg UEFA Champions League qualifier against Fenerbahce in midweek. The tie is level at 1-1 on aggregate.
Cristian Casseres of Toulouse was named Flashscore Man of the Match.
