Lyon advanced to the quarterfinals of the Coupe de France today, , with a 2-0 victory over Laval. The decisive goal came from Brazilian forward Endrick, marking his fifth goal in just five games for the club.
Endrick’s strike in the 80th minute opened the scoring, demonstrating a skillful play initiated by a driving run from midfielder Pavel Sulc. Sulc advanced with the ball, maintained possession through contact with opposing players and passed to Endrick, who then skillfully maneuvered past a defender before unleashing a powerful left-footed shot into the top left corner of the goal. Lyon secured their place in the quarterfinals with an own goal scored in stoppage time.
The 19-year-old Endrick is currently on loan from Real Madrid, a move facilitated by his desire for more playing time in preparation for the upcoming World Cup later this year. He is under the coaching of Carlo Ancelotti with the Brazilian national team, who previously worked with Endrick during his breakthrough season at Real Madrid.
Endrick’s recent form extends beyond the Coupe de France. Just days ago, on , he scored a hat-trick in a 5-2 Ligue 1 win against Metz, highlighting the impact he’s having since joining Lyon. This performance underscored the wisdom of Lyon securing his loan from Real Madrid.
In that match against Metz, Endrick scored in the 11th minute with a flicked shot from a cross by captain Corentin Tolisso. He added his second goal in first-half stoppage time, cutting inside and controlling the ball before calmly shooting past the goalkeeper. He completed his hat-trick by winning and converting a penalty in the 87th minute. Despite further opportunities, the Metz goalkeeper managed to save a header and a low shot from the Brazilian forward.
Beyond Endrick’s performance, Lyon’s victory over Metz also featured goals from central defender Ruben Kluivert, son of former player Patrick Kluivert, and Tyler Morton. This win helped Lyon maintain their fourth-place position in Ligue 1.
Other Coupe de France matches played today saw Lens defeat Troyes 4-2, with Abdallah Sima scoring twice. Lens are currently competing for a domestic double, challenging Paris Saint-Germain for the top spot in Ligue 1. Nice overcame Montpellier 3-2 after rallying from a 2-0 deficit, with Sofiane Diop scoring a crucial goal in stoppage time. Toulouse defeated Amiens 1-0 with a first-half goal from Yann Gboho. Lorient also secured a 2-0 win against Paris FC, who had previously eliminated holders PSG from the competition.
Nice’s victory was particularly dramatic, with Sofiane Diop bending a shot across the penalty area and into the bottom right corner after receiving a corner from the left. This demonstrated his awareness and skill in a pivotal moment of the match.
Endrick recently expressed his satisfaction with his start at Lyon, describing it as “almost perfect.” He has scored four goals and provided one assist in just three games since joining the club, quickly establishing himself as a key player. This strong start has also boosted his chances of being selected for the Brazilian squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
When asked about the possibility of extending his stay with Lyon beyond the end of the current loan agreement, Endrick did not rule it out, leaving open the possibility of a longer-term arrangement. He admitted to having his “smile back” after a difficult period, and credits his positive experience at Lyon with restoring his confidence.
The quarterfinal draw for the Coupe de France is scheduled to take place tomorrow, , following the completion of the match between Strasbourg and AS Monaco.
