Lyon made a significant move on Friday, temporarily pulling level with Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the French league. They secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory at home against Angers. This winning night also marked a unique shift for Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca, who now finds himself in a sort of “conditional release” within French football circles.
Fonseca has been serving a nine-month suspension since March. This ban stemmed from a disagreement he had with a referee. Starting Friday, the coach finally received permission to enter stadiums and access the team’s changing room during games. However, he remains barred from actually leading his team from the sidelines on the field. It’s a strange predicament, to be so close, yet still so far from the action.
The game itself, which kicked off the fifth matchday, saw American midfielder Tanner Tessmann deliver the only goal. He found the back of the net in the 65th minute, beating Koffi, the Angers goalkeeper from Burkina Faso who once played for Belenenses. This single goal pushed Lyon to 12 points, matching PSG’s tally, at least until the Parisians play their game.
Paris Saint-Germain is scheduled to visit Marseille on Sunday, a match that could once again separate the two top teams. On Lyon’s side, young Afonso Moreira also got a chance, coming onto the field during injury time, hinting at future potential. Meanwhile, Angers remains stuck in 12th place with five points. Their standing could drop further as the rest of the league plays out this weekend.