Lyon cruise in Le Havre in third straight win

Olympique Lyonnais continued their strong form on Sunday afternoon, winning their third straight Ligue 1 McDonald's match (and fifth in all competitions), 4-0 away to Le Havre, a result that sees them move to within a point of the top three. 

Cherki, Fofana stay in top form

At the Stade Océane, even with a handful of absences (Duje Caleta-Car, Nicolás Tagliafico and Nemanja Matic), Lyon were mightily impressive in dispatching the Norman side. Lyon were on the front foot from the off, with Rayan Cherki picking out Malick Fofana but the newly-minted Belgian international couldn't finish his chance. Cherki again tried to spark his side into the lead by picking out a late run by Maxence Caqueret, but the midfielder scuffed his chance. A goal seemed inevitable for the visitors, and it would finally come through another player who earned his first cap over the break, Brazilian left back Abner, who lashed home a low volley from the edge of the area. 

Five consecutive wins for Lyon 🦁🔥

✅ Olympiacos
✅ Toulouse
✅ Rangers
✅ Nantes
✅ Le Havre pic.twitter.com/tjqjBjplZl

— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 20, 2024

Les gones accelerate

In the second half, despite barely having been threatened by Le Havre, Lyon were in no mood to put the result in danger, and continued to press for more. Just before the hour, Fofana would have his goal, having been cleverly picked out by Corentino Tolisso. Some ten minutes later, it was the turn of Alexandre Lacazette, the captain looking to shake off what had been a slow start to the season following the Paris Games, who tucked home a cross from Cherki for his side's third goal. 

Saïd Benrahma, on off the bench, would add a fourth five minutes from time, and it was job done for Pierre Sage's side before they look to continue their perfect start to the UEFA Europa League on Thursday against Besiktas. Speaking post-match, Lacazette reflected that the team's form is a good thing, but it's far from job done for the veteran and his teammates, with the fixtures continuing to come thick and fast, but manageable for a team that has plenty of depth in attack. "Competition helps everyone. Saïd came on, he scored, it shows that he wants to be in the XI. We're going to stay humble, we're not going to get ahead of ourselves."

Lyon will return to Ligue 1 action at home to Auxerre on Sunday, while Le Havre, who have slipped into the bottom three, next play on Friday, away to a Rennes side who have themselves struggled for form of late.

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