Nuamah opened the scoring on 20 minutes with a left-foot finish after Lyon had forced the first big save of the night. From that point Sparta were chasing, and their task became far harder on 34 minutes when Ševinský was sent off for a professional foul as last man.

Even before the dismissal, Lyon’s pressure had been building with three first-half big chances. They led most attacking categories and fashioned four shots on target before the interval. Sparta kept their shape and relied on Jakub Surovčík, who made three first-half saves, but the man disadvantage stretched them.

Lyon’s second-half surge came with territory and patience. Maitland-Niles made it 2-0 on 66 minutes, arriving to finish from a Corentin Tolisso assist after a neat move on the right. Six minutes later, Morton struck a crisp right-foot shot for 3-0, effectively ending the contest. The hosts even clipped the woodwork once and could have scored more with cleaner final balls. The numbers matched the eye test: 64 percent second-half possession and 11-1 in second-half shots.

The numbers that decided it

Lyon produced a balanced superiority. They had 56 percent possession overall, but more telling was where they played. Final third entries finished 58-46, and Lyon completed 118 of 153 passes in the final third for 77 percent accuracy. That sustained presence led to 26 touches in the Sparta box versus 11 at the other end.

Shot quality and volume favored the hosts. Lyon out-shot Sparta 19-6 and led 11-1 in shots on target, creating five big chances to one. They also earned seven corners to one. When they chose to go long, they did it well, completing 29 of 48 long balls at 60 percent. Sparta connected on only 13 of 45 long passes at 29 percent, which limited their ability to relieve pressure and spring counters.

Defensively, Sparta stood up to waves of attacks with 20 clearances and seven interceptions. Surovčík stacked eight saves and one punch, and his 10 recoveries showed just how busy he was sweeping behind a back line that had to readjust after the red card. Lyon were cleaner in possession, with only three dispossessions compared to Sparta’s 14, and they won 50 percent of the duels overall. The visitors did dribble well in spurts, completing nine of 15, but the lack of ball progression and a single shot on target told the larger story.

MVP watch: Tyler Morton’s all-action clinic

Tyler Morton earned an 8.6 Sofascore Rating and the match MVP by running midfield with the kind of varied influence coaches love. He scored Lyon’s third on 72 minutes, capping his display with a composed finish and standing in the right spots as the game stretched. Earlier he rattled the woodwork, underlining his constant shooting threat.

His passing was the platform. Morton completed 55 of 61 passes, including a superb 11 of 13 accurate long balls to flip pressure and find runners early. He added two key passes, which helped Lyon keep Sparta retreating. With 70 touches and 28 ball carries covering 263.8 meters, including over 100 meters of progressive carrying, he repeatedly moved Lyon up the pitch without fuss.

There was also defensive bite and awareness. Morton made eight ball recoveries and won a tackle as Lyon closed the center and squeezed second balls. He finished with four total shots, two on target, and kept his composure with only seven possessions lost despite operating in traffic. In short, he stitched the match together. On Sofascore, those layers of contribution are exactly what drive a high Sofascore Rating.

Support cast steps up: Tolisso, Maitland-Niles and company

Corentin Tolisso pulled the strings at key moments and posted an 8.2 Sofascore Rating. The captain delivered the assist for 2-0, completed 35 of 41 passes and produced two key passes himself. He also chipped in defensively with three tackles and one block, plus a big chance created and three shots to keep Sparta honest at the top of the box.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles matched craft with timing. He scored Lyon’s second, won two tackles, and recovered the ball seven times. In 76 minutes he completed 33 of 42 passes and added a key pass, covering a lot of ground on the right before making way. Abner Vinícius quietly turned in a 7.7 with 55 of 64 passes completed and a team-high four key passes from left back, reflecting Lyon’s threat from both flanks.

In the back line, Moussa Niakhaté looked assured, going 84 of 92 in passing with 102 touches and a key pass, while Ruben Kluivert brought six clearances and nine recoveries with a 7.3. Up front, Nuamah set the tone with the opener, won 10 duels and worked both ways for a 7.4. This was a collective effort that put Sparta on the back foot for long stretches.