Zachary Athekame
LYO
Scores goal in victory
Athekame scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal), four crosses (two accurate) and three chances created in Friday's 3-1 victory over AJ Auxerre.
Analysis: Athekame doubled Lyon's lead in the 31st minute, drilling a low right-footed strike from outside the box past Mamadou Diop off Lois Openda's feed just three minutes after the opener. He also connected on two of his four crosses and carved out three chances over the full 90 minutes, staying heavily involved in the attack throughout the contest. Athekame has now directly contributed to two goals and five chances through Lyon's first three Ligue 1 matches, carrying his strong form forward as one of the division's most attack-minded right-backs.
Assists equalizer in 1-1 draw
Athekame assisted once to go with one shot (zero on goal), 11 crosses (three accurate) and one corner in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Le Havre.
Analysis: Athekame assisted Lois Openda in the 87th minute to help his side draw 1-1. The full-back has played 90 minutes in each of his Ligue 1 games since joining Lyon. He created two chances in the game and was also accurate with three of his 11 crosses, having only attempted three in the opening game.
Loaned to Lyon through 2027
Athekame joined Lyon on loan without an option to buy from AC Milan through June 30, 2027, the club announced.
Analysis: Athekame came through the Geneva region before joining Neuchatel Xamax in the Swiss second division, then moved to Young Boys in the summer of 2024, where he gained Champions League experience with 8 appearances, including 5 starts. He joined AC Milan the following summer, making 27 Serie A appearances and scoring twice, against Pisa and Genoa, while developing alongside a squad full of internationals. The 21-year-old right back, capped 17 times by Switzerland's U21 side, brings speed, power and versatility to Lyon's setup. Athekame is expected to add depth to coach Paulo Fonseca's backline during his loan spell.
Scores one goal
Athekame scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal), one cross (zero accurate) and one chance created in Sunday's 2-1 victory against Genoa.
Analysis: Athekame delivered one of the most impactful performances of his season in Sunday's 2-1 win at Genoa, receiving Christian Pulisic's pass in the second half before driving forward and unleashing a powerful long-range strike into the right corner past Justin Bijlow to make it 2-0 and seemingly put the match beyond doubt. The young right wing-back started and completed the full 90 minutes, combining defensive solidity in the first half with the attacking burst that produced the decisive second goal, arguably his most important contribution in a Milan shirt, while also adding one key pass and two tackles. Athekame has now registered two goals and two assists across 26 Serie A appearances this season.
Two shots in loss
Athekame had two shots (zero on goal), four crosses (one accurate) and two chances created in Sunday's 2-0 defeat versus Sassuolo.
Analysis: Athekame took a pair of shots and failed to put either on target during Sunday's loss. It was a disappointing day for the team as a whole, and despite his wayward shooting, Athekame was actually productive, with two chances created and four crosses. He will hope to be more efficient with that volume in the coming weeks.
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