Lyon returns to summit with derby win

LIGUE 1 RESULTS

 

Friday, November 23
Home		Road
St. Etienne	1-0	Valenciennes
Saturday, November 24
PSG	4-0	Troyes
Bastia	2-1	Lorient
Nancy	1-1	Ajaccio
Reims	0-0	Brest
Rennes	0-1	Evian
Sochaux	0-1	Nice
Sunday, November 25
Montpellier	1-0	Bordeaux
Toulouse	3-0	Lyon
Marseille	1-0	Lille
More: Scores | Stats | Ligue 1

 

 

 

Lyon powered to the summit of Ligue 1 in emphatic fashion as Bafetimbi Gomis' hat trick helped them beat Marseille 4-1 in front of a stunned Stade Velodrome.

The hosts came into this match level on points with leaders Paris St Germain and optimistic about their chances of opening up daylight at the summit, but instead went away nursing bruised pride as Lyon delivered the perfect response to their 3-0 defeat to Toulouse at the weekend.

Gomis fired Lyon in front from the penalty spot after three minutes before adding his second 11 minutes before the break.

Steed Malbranque made it 3-0 to the further delight of Lyon fans who had made the journey down the A7, while Gomis completed his treble 18 minutes from time.

Those Marseille fans that stuck long enough at least got to see Loic Remy pull one back on 77 minutes, but Rod Fanni's straight red card for the hosts moments later seemed a more fitting finale to an abject display.

Victory leaves Lyon two points clear of PSG at the summit, while Marseille slip to third.

Injuries meant Lyon came into the match without key men Lisandro Lopez and Yoann Gourcuff but their absence appeared anything but a hindrance as the visitors surged into an early lead.

OM goalkeeper Steve Mandanda was adjudged to have fouled Alexandre Lacazette in the area and the referee pointed to the spot, from where Gomis gleefully opened his account.

Remy Vercoutre had to be at his best to preserve Lyon's lead on 14 minutes as he saved brilliantly from a Jordan Ayew header.

Lyon doubled their lead on 33 minutes, Gomis latching onto Maxime Gonalons' pass and taking the ball beyond Mandanda before slotting into the empty net.

OM coach Elie Baup was clearly as unhappy as the home fans at the first-half performance and shuffled his pack at the break, with Joey Barton making way for Remy.

But the change did not have the desired effect and within three minutes of the restart OM were further behind, Lacazette again involved with a run and cross which Malbranque sweetly volleyed home.

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And three became four on 72 minutes as Lacazette and Anthony Reveillere exchanged passes before playing in Gomis, who kept his head to complete his treble from eight yards.

Remy pulled one back on 77 minutes as followed up Jordan Ayew's shot to score on the rebound, but there was more home misery to come as Fanni received a straight red three minutes later for a dangerous tackle on Mouhamadou Dabo.