French giants Olympique Lyon have started their UEFA Europa League campaign with an away win as FC Utrecht, who played their first European match since 2010, were beaten 1-0 in the Netherlands thanks to a world-class goal from Tanner Tessmann.
FC Utrecht made its first appearance in a European group stage game since 2010, when the Eredivisie side were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League group stage after playing in a group with Liverpool, Napoli, and Steaua Bucharest.
Danish defender Niklas Vesterlund was given a start in midfield over Davy van den Berg, who missed out due to injury. Former West Ham, Dortmund, and Ajax striker Sebastien Haller got the nod over David Min, earning the Ivorian striker his first European start since March 2023.
Former FC Utrecht defender Ruben Kluivert, son of Patrick Kluivert and brother of Bournemouth star Justin Kluivert, made his first-ever start for Olympique Lyon, whom the Dutch defender joined from Portuguese side Casa Pia last summer. Uruguayan striker Martin Satriano led the line for Lyon, with Malick Fofana and the Czech duo of Pavel Sulc and Adam Karabec behind him.
FC Utrecht started out on top and quickly got close to going in front when Miguel Rodriguez fired a shot that nearly ricocheted in Dominik Greif's goal, but the Slovakian stopper just about tipped it out of the top corner. The home side got close again from the following corner when captain Nick Viergever lacked a toe's length to tap the ball in.
A counter shortly before half-time looked promising for FC Utrecht, but left-back Souffian El Karouani could not test Greif.
It only took a minute for Utrecht to become dangerous in the second half after Sebastien Haller nearly half-volleyed the ball in Greif's bottom corner, but saw his effort go just wide.
An excellent reflex from Greek stopper Vasilis Barkas stopped Ruben Kluivert from scoring the opener in the 53rd minute with a header from close range.
Just as Utrecht threatened to go up again, Lyon took the lead in the 75th minute thanks to American substitute Tanner Tessmann, who rocketed the ball into Barkas' top corner from outside the box.
The home side went all-in as manager Ron Jans brought on an extra striker in David Min, who replaced Vesterlund. Utrecht hadn't fired a shot on goal since the fifth minute and got very close in the 86th minute, but Gjivai Zechiel's effort from inside the box flew over the bar.
Utrecht's first shot on target in 83 minutes came from extremely close range, as Sebastien Haller got his foot on the ball inside the 5-yard box, but could not generate power as the ball did not fall favourably for the Ivorian.
View all the match and player statistics from FC Utrecht - Olympique Lyon on Flashscore.
