Olympique Lyonnais clawed they way back into the battle for the UEFA Champions League spots with a 4-1 thrashing of Stade Malherbe Caen in Ligue 1 on Sunday.
Lyon’s third consecutive league win lifted the seven-time champions to fifth place in the standings, just seven points behind second-placed AS Monaco.
Coach Bruno Genesio, who replaced Hubert Fournier during the winter break, seems to have found the right balance as his side have now scored 10 goals in their past three league matches, conceding just one.
Photo: AP
“This is a big satisfaction, despite the goal we conceded,” Lyon attacking midfielder Mathieu Valbuena said. “We played beautiful football and we should have scored more goals with a bit more efficiency, but we should not complain, we played with great spirit.”
While runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain look all but guaranteed to win a fourth straight title, the fight for the second automatic Champions League spot remains wide open. After drawing 1-1 with Olympique de Marseille in Sunday’s late game, OGC Nice are in third place, level on points with AS Saint-Etienne, who drew 1-1 with AS Monaco.
Lyon quickly built a two-goal lead with strikes from Samuel Umtiti and Alexandre Lacazette, before Maxwell Cornet made it 3-0 in the 45th minute.
Lacazette, who has been struggling with confidence after finishing the previous campaign as the league’s top scorer, netted his 10th league goal from Jordan Ferri’s assist.
Andy Delort pulled one back for Caen near the hour-mark and Corentin Tolisso sealed Lyon’s win seven minutes from time.
After their third consecutive loss, Caen dropped to 10th, three points behind Lyon.
On Valentine’s Day, Monaco striker Vagner Love scored his first goal in Ligue 1 to cancel out Moustapha Sall’s header at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.
Saint-Etienne dominated for long spells, but Monaco goalkeeper Danijel Subasic made four decisive saves in the first half.
In Nice, Valere Germain scored the equalizer in the 58th minute from Vincent Koziello’s cross after Mauricio Isla headed home his first goal for Marseille in the first half.
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