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Lyon goalkeeper coach tries to attack Guendouzi and ends up cornered in the tunnel

Fenerbahçe clinched their place in the Champions League league phase by knocking out Olympique Lyonnais, and the night ended in a brawl. Lyon goalkeeper coach Antonio Ferreira went after Mattéo Guendouzi as soon as the final whistle blew.

NatillaByNatilla4 min read
Mattéo Guendouzi and Fenerbahçe players react as Lyon goalkeeper coach Antonio Ferreira is cornered and hit near the tunnel after the Champions League qualifier.
Mattéo Guendouzi and Fenerbahçe players react as Lyon goalkeeper coach Antonio Ferreira is cornered and hit near the tunnel after the Champions League qualifier.

Olympique Lyonnais were eliminated from the Champions League on Wednesday after losing to Fenerbahçe, and the aftermath delivered far more than a simple qualification outcome. Right at the final whistle, Lyon goalkeeper coach Antonio Ferreira went straight for Fenerbahçe midfielder Mattéo Guendouzi after a night marked by constant tension between the player and the home crowd. The decision backfired badly: several teammates of the former Olympique de Marseille man jumped in, and the Lyon staff member ended up hit and cornered against the tunnel entrance.

  • Fenerbahçe beat Lyon to secure a spot in the Champions League league phase.
  • Mattéo Guendouzi clashed with Lyon supporters throughout the match and said his family was insulted.
  • Lyon goalkeeper coach Antonio Ferreira confronted Guendouzi immediately after the final whistle.
  • Fenerbahçe players reacted and cornered the coach at the tunnel entrance.
  • Corentin Tolisso, Guendouzi's France teammate, criticised his behaviour after the game.

Fenerbahçe knock out Lyon to reach the Champions League league phase

The night went wrong early for Olympique Lyonnais, who conceded goals from Muriqi and Archie Brown before Malick Fofana pulled one back. The French side found some hope through that goal, but it was not enough to level the tie or to change the direction of a qualifying round that had already become complicated. With the defeat confirmed, Fenerbahçe sealed their place in the new Champions League league phase and left Lyon without the European return they had been chasing.

Guendouzi targeted by the home crowd in a heated finish

Mattéo Guendouzi's past with Olympique de Marseille made him a target for Lyon supporters from the very first minute. According to his own account, the crowd insulted his family, and the midfielder did not hold back in his response, aiming gestures at the home fans during several stretches of the match. That constant exchange of provocations raised the temperature of a game that was already decisive because of what was at stake.

Antonio Ferreira's charge at Guendouzi and the Fenerbahçe players' response

With the tie settled, Guendouzi moved towards an area occupied by Fenerbahçe fans. That was when Lyon goalkeeper coach Antonio Ferreira went after him in an aggressive manner and sparked the incident. What could have been a one-on-one confrontation quickly became a group action: several visiting players intervened to support their teammate and ended up hitting Ferreira, who found himself cornered against the tunnel entrance. Footage of the scene spread rapidly on social media.

Tolisso scolds his international teammate

Among those who witnessed the scene was Corentin Tolisso, a Lyon player and Guendouzi's teammate with the French national team. Far from defending the midfielder, Tolisso criticised his attitude towards the crowd and the way he handled a qualification that came wrapped in resentment.

I simply told him to go celebrate with his team and stay humble in victory. Leave the OL fans alone, they are already frustrated enough. I think this kind of thing is irresponsible. I hope he learns from it.

Tolisso's words reflect the mood left in the home dressing room by an episode that, beyond the elimination itself, ended up staining Lyon's European exit. The incident between Ferreira and Guendouzi also adds a disciplinary layer to a night the French club will struggle to forget.

Frequently asked questions about the Lyon-Fenerbahçe brawl

Frequently asked questions

What happened between Guendouzi and the Lyon goalkeeper coach?

After the Champions League qualifier ended, Lyon's Antonio Ferreira confronted Mattéo Guendouzi aggressively as the midfielder approached the Fenerbahçe fans. Guendouzi's teammates stepped in, and the coach was hit and cornered in the tunnel.

Why did Lyon fans go after Guendouzi?

Guendouzi previously played for Olympique de Marseille, Lyon's biggest rival, which made him a target for the home crowd all night. He said his family was insulted and responded with gestures towards the supporters.

What did Corentin Tolisso say about Guendouzi's behaviour?

Tolisso, a Lyon player and Guendouzi's France teammate, told him to celebrate with his own team and stay humble in victory. He called the behaviour irresponsible and said he hoped Guendouzi would learn from it.

Based on reporting by Marca.