Lyon were looking to move within a point of 17th place on Sunday afternoon as they hosted fellow relegation contenders Toulouse at Parc OL. Les Gones’ hopes of moving from the foot of the table vanished following a goalless draw between Clermont and Lille earlier in the day.
Toulouse were the most ball-dominant side in early proceedings as they had the lion’s share of possession but this produced very little in what was a rather timid opening ten minutes of the match. Lyon’s intent appeared to be playing long. The first reasonable chance of the game came from Sierro on a close-range free kick but his shot flew over the crossbar.
Nuamah had the first shot on target from a Lyon counter-attack but Restes was able to save well at his near post with his feet. Ćaleta-Car had a great opportunity from the following corner but he could only head straight at Restes. In the 25th minute, Lacazette gave OL the lead. Jake O’Brien turned creator this time around, following a good spell in front of goal, as he headed the ball down from a corner for the Lyon captain to poke the ball beyond Restes for his 4th goal of the season.
It wasn’t long before Lacazette doubled his tally and scored Lyon’s second of the evening. Tolisso’s half-volley crashed off the post and directly into the path of the former Arsenal striker to smash home and give Lyon a sacred two-goal first-half lead. Caqueret then tried to press home Les Gones’ advantage with a low effort from distance which just whistled wide.
In the last minute of the first half, Toulouse were awarded a penalty. Lopes rushed out of his goal to close down Suazo who had acres of space to hit his shot and the Chilean was clattered in the process by the Portuguese stopper who failed to claim the ball. However, Lopes soon made amends as he managed to deny Thijs Dallinga from the spot with a firm hand. This was the first penalty save of his career at the Groupama Stadium and it was enough to keep Lyon’s two-goal lead intact at the break.
Lopes made the first save of the second half with a tame curled effort from Magri. Lacazette had a great chance to register his hat trick after some great link-up with Nuamah, but the Lyon captain couldn’t quite get any pace on his shot on the swivel. Dønnum then quickly had a chance up the other end but a slight deflection from Jake O’Brien was enough to turn the ball behind.
Ćaleta-Car has an opportunity to head goalwards from a free kick but he couldn’t get any conviction on his attempt. Lacazette came close to his third again following another counter but with the angle closing, he couldn’t beat Restes who got a hand to his effort. Caqueret then almost turned the ball home following some good work from Nuamah but his glancing effort looped over the bar.
Toulouse possibly created the best sequence of play in the match to open up the Lyon defence and send Logan Costa through on goal but the defender was unable to beat the onrushing Lopes. With ten minutes of regulation time, Lacazette had his hat trick. Diawara’s shot was blocked by Niciolaisen and the ball fell to the Lyon captain to covert once again in poacher-like style for his third of the night.
Following the club’s most impressive performance of the season and a return to form from Alexandre Lacazette, Pierre Sage was able to guide OL to their second win of the season. Lyon secure their first home win of the season. Although, not enough to move Les Gones from the foot of the table, their chances of survival look an awful lot healthier.
Lyon player ratings:
Anthony Lopes – 6, The Portuguese stopper was in the limelight for both the right and wrong reasons. On a rather quiet night for Lopes, a rash decision to close down Suazo saw him give away a penalty. However, he made amends instantly by denying Thijs Dallinga from the spot to make his first-ever Ligue 1 penalty save at the Groupama Stadium.
Clinton Mata – 6
Duje Ćaleta-Car – 6
Dejan Lovren – 6
Jake O’Brien – 7, The Irish defender was an influence in both boxes once again as he teed up Lacazette for the first of his three goals and contributed with a solid defensive performance in his third of the pitch. O’Brien continues to impress in a Lyon shirt.
Nicolás Tagliafico – 6
Maxence Caqueret – 7, The France U21 international was once again the driving force from midfield. Caqueret’s work rate in linking defence from attack and pressing off the ball enabled Lyon to win the midfield battle despite being a man short compared to Toulouse.
Corentin Tolisso – 6
Ernest Nuamah – 6
Alexandre Lacazette – 9, The Lyon captain looked like the player of last season as he scored a hat-trick for his boyhood club. Lacazette’s predatory attacking instincts appeared to be back. Aside from his goals, the former Arsenal striker’s ability to drop off the front line and exploit the space was integral to Sage’s attacking set-up in launching counters.
Rayan Cherki – 6
