The Coupe de France quarter-final between Olympique Lyonnais and RC Lens delivered a night of high drama, momentum swings and a nerve-shredding penalty shootout. In the end, it was RC Lens who kept their composure to seal a 5–4 victory on penalties after a pulsating 2–2 draw.

The visitors stunned the crowd at the Groupama Stadium with a blistering first-half performance. Florian Thauvin opened the scoring, putting RC Lens in front and silencing the home supporters. Just before the break, Abdallah Sima doubled the advantage, finishing off a swift attacking move that left Olympique Lyonnais staring at a daunting two-goal deficit heading into halftime.

But the game turned in the second half — and a Ukrainian forward played a key role. In the 67th minute, Roman Yaremchuk ignited hope for Olympique Lyonnais, scoring his first goal for the club and cutting the deficit to 2–1.

That pressure finally paid off in the closing stages when young midfielder Imbert produced a crucial equaliser to make it 2–2, sending the tie into a dramatic penalty shootout.

From the spot, the tension inside the Groupama Stadium was palpable. Both sides converted most of their attempts, but the decisive moment came when Moussa Niakhaté failed to convert for Olympique Lyonnais. RC Lens held their nerve to clinch a 5–4 shootout win and secure their place in the Coupe de France semi-finals.

2025-26, Coupe de France

Lyon - Lens 2:2 (0:2), shoot-out 4:5
Goals: Thauvin, 23 (0:1); Sima A., 45 (0:2); Yaremchuk, 67 (1:2); Himbert, 90 (2:2)

Lyon: Descamps R.; Tagliafico (Himbert, 59); Abner; Niakhaté; Mata C.; Morton T.; Tolisso; Maitland-Niles (Hateboer, 69); Nartey (Karabec, 87); Endrick; Yaremchuk
Substitution: Himbert (from 59); Hateboer (from 69); Karabec (from 87)
Bench: Greif; Kamara N.; Mangala O.; Tessmann; Merah; Ghezzal R.
Yellow Cards: Tagliafico 45

Lens: Risser; Čelik N.; Udol; Sarr Mal.; Abdulhamid; Ganiou; Thomasson; Sangaré; Thauvin; Édouard O. (Haidara A., 78); Saïd W.
Substitution: Haidara A. (from 78); Fofana R-n (from 90)
Bench: Gorgelin; Masuaku; Sylla; Bulatović; Sima A.; Sotoca; Bermont
Yellow Cards: Édouard O. 45; Udol 54; Čelik N. 78
Red cards: Masuaku 64'