Lyon and Lille both advanced in the Europa League, securing spots in either the round of 16 or the play-offs, while Nice suffered a disappointing exit.
Lyon, already guaranteed direct qualification, capped their campaign with a dominant 4-2 victory over PAOK, solidifying their top position in the group standings. Lille, meanwhile, snatched a last-gasp 1-0 win against Freiburg thanks to a stoppage-time penalty from Olivier Giroud, earning a place in the play-off round. In contrast, Nice endured an unsuccessful European run, concluding with a 1-0 defeat at Ludogorets.
Lyon’s Young Stars Shine
Despite fielding a largely reserve team against PAOK, Lyon demonstrated their depth and secured the win. Seventeen-year-old Rémi Himbert marked his debut with a goal, becoming the youngest scorer for OL in European competition, surpassing even Karim Benzema.
After initially falling behind, Himbert’s goal sparked a comeback, followed by another strike from 18-year-old Khalis Merah to level the score. A late surge saw Karabec regain the lead for Lyon at 3-2 in the 88th minute, before Alejandro Gomes sealed the victory with a goal in added time (4-2, 90th +3).
Giroud Delivers for Lille
Olivier Giroud proved his enduring value, entering the match in the 82nd minute and immediately impacting the game. He converted a penalty in stoppage time, securing a 1-0 victory for Lille against Freiburg (90th +2) and guaranteeing their qualification for the play-offs. Lille had previously held firm against a Freiburg side that was already qualified and reduced to 10 players in the final 15 minutes. A draw would have sufficed, but the win was a sweeter outcome.
Nice, however, experienced little joy, finishing their European campaign with a seventh defeat in eight matches, losing 1-0 at Ludogorets. The team finished 33rd in the overall ranking with just 3 points, exiting the competition with a whimper.
Aston Villa, Midtjylland, Betis, Porto, Braga, Freiburg, and Roma also progressed in the competition. Lille will face either Celta Vigo or Red Star Belgrade in the play-offs, with the potential to meet Aston Villa or Lyon in the round of 16 if they advance.
