Lacazette makes history as Lyon fightback again
Nantes had only scored one goal in the opening 15 minutes of their previous 27 league games this season, but that tally was doubled inside two minutes at the Groupama Stadium when Nantes took the lead in fortuitous circumstances. Mostafa Mohamed’s shot was smartly saved by Rémy Riou, but the rebound bounced off Lyon defender Castello Lukeba and into his own net.
Lacazette scored two late goals to salvage a 3-3 draw against Lille last weekend, and he was required once again to pull his side level again here. The former Arsenal striker utilised his strength to hold off Nicolas Pallois, before slamming home his 150th goal in a Lyon shirt. In the last moment of action of the first half, Lacazette went agonisingly close to finding the net for a second time, but his close-range header was superbly stopped by Alban Lafont, and the forward could only direct the rebound into the side netting.
With the game finely poised, both sides spurned chances to move in front just after the restart. Evann Guessand was unable to lift the ball over the onrushing Riou, while at the other end of the pitch, Lyon’s Maxence Caqueret was denied by an outstretched Lafont after latching onto Corentin Tolisso’s defence-splitting pass. It was then the turn of Mohamed to waste a promising opportunity when the Nantes striker raced into the box before blazing harmlessly over the crossbar. As the contest progressed, the two sides eventually ran out of ideas, ensuring both league meetings between the pair this season have finished all square.
The draw leaves 10th-placed Lyon six points adrift of the top-five, while Nantes finish the day seven points clear of the relegation zone. The game could serve as a good scouting opportunity for both, as the two sides will reconvene in early April when they face off in the Coupe de France semi-finals.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)