Monaco back up Nice win with hard-fought victory against Lyon

Monaco had two quickfire chances to break the lead, after Krepin Diatta’s left-footed strike hit the post following some superb build-up play involving Caio Henrique and Aleksandr Golovin.

Breel Embolo should have continued his fine goalscoring form after netting in the crucial wins over Nice and Red Star Belgrade, but he headed the ball straight into Anthony Lopes’ grasp from Vanderson’s excellent cross.

The game ebbed and flowed both ways, as the Monegasques' shot-stopper Alexander Nubel made a fine save to keep out Alexandre Lacazette’s strike, while Tete did everything right except for applying the appropriate finish after slaloming his way through the Monaco defence, only to fire his subsequent effort over the bar.

Golovin came close with the half-time whistle approaching after latching onto Nubel’s long ball, and smashed a fierce volley towards goal which Lopes punched to safety.

Lyon looked sharp after the break and had a real zip about their play. The ever-threatening Lacazette saw another effort blocked, while the lively Tete’s speculative strike rose over the crossbar.

But that bright start counted for nothing when BenoIt Badiashile showed tremendous desire to outmuscle Thiago Mendes and powered home a bullet header from Caio Henrique’s sublime corner.

Peter Bosz’s side failed to learn the lessons from the first goal and conceded from a set piece again, this time when Guillermo Maripan stooped down to head home Henrique’s free-kick into the box.

It looked like there may be a grandstand finish when Toko Ekambi halved the deficit with a superb strike after being picked out by Rayan Cherki, but ultimately, it was too little too late.

The result continues a marked improvement for Philippe Clement’s side, who conceded four goals in their previous two Ligue 1 home matches, but have now won three consecutive matches in all competitions.

As for Lyon, this result means Les Gones have now lost back-to-back Ligue 1 games for the first time since October 2019, and takes the gloss away from a fine start to the season when Bosz’s side won four of their first five matches.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Caio Henrique (Monaco)

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