Lille inflict more misery on rock-bottom Lyon

Olympique Lyonnais 0-2 LOSC Lille

THE MATCH

Lille went in front in the 27th minute at the Groupama Stadium when David controlled a lay-off by Yusuf Yazici before poking the ball into the net past home goalkeeper Anthony Lopes. They doubled their lead five minutes later as Tiago Santos controlled a stray headed clearance before firing a superb strike high into the net from just outside the area.

Lyon should have pulled a goal back just before the hour mark when Mama Baldé – who had replaced Alexandre Lacazette at half-time – somehow headed over the bar from two metres out. That rather summed up another deeply disappointing evening for them.

LOSC’s victory ends a run of three successive draws and extends their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions. They are fourth, three points ahead of Stade de Reims in fifth and one point behind third-placed AS Monaco. Lyon, meanwhile, were unable to build on their first victory of the campaign away in Rennes last time out. At least the four teams directly above them all lost this weekend, but Fabio Grosso’s side remain five points from outright safety.

THE PLAYER: Jonathan David

The Canada striker got the all-important opening goal as he ended a run of nine Ligue 1 appearances without scoring going back to August 27. His last goal in any competition for Lille had come against Olimpija Ljubljana in the Europa Conference League on September 20.

THE STAT: 4

Fabio Grosso has now lost four of his seven games in charge of Lyon, who have just seven points after 12 games. Only four teams have ever stayed up after managing just seven points from their first 12 outings, since the switch to three points for a win three decades ago.

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