Cherki & Nuamah on target as Lyon seal statement win in the Riviera rain

Lyon sealed a vital victory away to OGC Nice to tighten the race for champions league football

Olympique Lyonnais travelled to a rainy Côte d'Azur to face OGC Nice, who had the opportunity to rise above Olympique de Marseille if they came away with a win by more than two goals. If OL were to get a result at the Allianz, it would be a huge statement of intent in the race for Champions League football.

Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca faced the first match of his lengthy touchline suspension, taking his place in the press stand as Nice coach Franck Haise was hoping his side could get closer to Marseille in the race for Europe. A rainy Allianz Riviera stadium welcomed both sides for the last game of this week's Ligue 1 McDonald's action.

With both sides fighting for those European spots, it was as expected an even affair between the two in the first period. Nice had a huge chance to go in front, but Gaëtan Laborde's header was deflected onto the post by OL's Moussa Niakhaté. Haise's side looked in control, but they didn't punish OL whilst they were on top. It would come back to bite them in the second half.

Fonseca's substitutions make the difference

Rayan Cherki made an instant impact only minutes after being substituted on, with Thiago Almada providing a pinpoint through-ball for the Frenchman after Tolisso won the ball high up the pitch. Cherki provided the finish just underneath Marcin Bulka to put Les Gones ahead in the second-half (78'). Franck Haise's men had to react quickly if they wanted to get back into the game, but Paulo Fonseca's substitutes proved key and it would end up turning the tide of the affair in favour of OL.

Another one of these substitutes Ernest Nuamah latched onto another mistake from the Aiglon defence, and picked out the top right corner with a lovely curled strike to double Les Gones' lead over Nice (82'). With the sucker punch, Nuamah essentially sealed an important three points for Les Gones and sealed a first league defeat at home for OGC Nice this season.

MATCH REACTIONS

Moussa Niakhaté (OL): "Nice we're unbeaten at home so we had to defend well in the first half, but we managed to get the job done in the second.I watch all the games on TV and I know what's going on everywhere so I know this result was really important for us tonight. It was complicated to have the coach not on the touchline but we're trying to deal with it the best way possible. But we have big leaders who can step up in this team."

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