Lyon racked up another UEFA Europa League (UEL) victory as they comfortably overcame Red Bull Salzburg 2-0, with the French side extending their record of just two defeats in their last 34 UEL group/league phase fixtures.
Facing an in-form Lyon side who have a rich recent European pedigree at home, having lost just three of their last 29 major European games on French soil, the visitors could ill afford the horrendous start they suffered.
With only four minutes on the clock, Maurits Kjaergaard acrobatically attempted to block Mathys De Carvalho’s shot, but the ball was adjudged to have hit his hand. Die Roten Bullen felt that an element of justice was served when Pavel Sulc’s tame penalty was comfortably stopped by goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.
However, the joy would be short-lived for the Austrian number one, as four minutes later, he gifted Lyon the opening goal. Schlager attempted to find Aleksa Terzic, but his pass fell straight into the path of Adam Karabec, whose pinpoint cross allowed Martin Satriano to pounce and head home.
Karabec was proving instrumental to everything the home side had to offer, and almost bagged another assist when Nicolas Tagliafico met his teasing cross at the back post, but the Argentinian blasted over from three yards.
Salzburg’s promising moments were limited, although Clinton Mata’s audacious backheel back to his own goalkeeper almost gifted Yorbe Vertessen the chance to equalise, but Dominik Greif was able to rush off his line and save Mata’s blushes.
During a dominant second half, there was little doubt that this would be another successful night in front of the Lyon faithful, as Paulo Fonseca’s side dominated and controlled possession.
Eventually, the Austrians would relent just before the hour mark. They thought they had seen off the danger when they cleared Sulc’s shot off the line; however, from the resulting Karabec cross, Ruben Kluivert rose highest and planted his header into the bottom corner to put the result beyond doubt.
As a result, Lyon are joint top with six points, while RB Salzburg are joint bottom with zero.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Adam Karabec (Lyon)
Check out all the match stats with Flashscore
