Football: Lyon gets the better of Saint-Étienne in the derby

Thanks to a goal from its captain, Alexandre Lacazette, Lyon won by a minimum margin at the expense of Saint-Etienne (1-0), Sunday at Groupama Stadium on the occasion of the 125th derby between the two rival clubs counting for the 11th day of the championship. With this victory, OL climbs to 5th place for the first time this season while ASSE – which has still not won away – remains stuck at the bottom of the ranking (16th and play-off).

Lacazette (33), who had already scored in the Europa League on Thursday at Hoffenheim (2-2), gave his team the advantage in the 29th minute by taking a pass from Corentin Tolisso with his knee after a corner played by Rayan Cherki . This is the sixth goal for the Lyon center forward in the derby, which he has won seven times out of thirteen contested and of which he inevitably becomes a hero. The player left for Arsenal between 2017 and 2022 before returning to OL.

During the last Lyon – Saint-Etienne at the Gerland stadium, on November 8, 2015, Alexandre Lacazette – replaced in the 79th minute by Georges Mikautadze this Sunday evening – notably scored a hat-trick for a 3-0 victory.

His goal on Sunday evening marked a big highlight for OL, during which Pierre Sage's team could have scored on a Tolisso rebound that was repelled by goalkeeper Gautier Larsonneur before Lacazette already found the post on a cross shot (26th). An attempt by Malick Fofana also pushed Larsonneur into the parade (28th), just before the opening score.

Subsequently, the Saint-Etienne goalkeeper intervened on a free kick from Cherki (36th), which then narrowly missed the target (45th + 2). In the second half, the Greens tried to react but without much danger for goalkeeper Lucas Perri, who however intervened with his foot on a shot from Ibrahim Sissoko going against for Saint-Etienne's best opportunity, just after a parade of Larsonneur in front of Fofana (76th).

Overall, the match played in front of 58,082 spectators, a record for a derby, without Saint-Etienne supporters banned from traveling by the authorities, remained of a very average level. Certainly, it was dominated quite largely by OL with 61% possession of the ball. But this superiority, apart from the highlight which brought Lacazette's goal, remained sterile. Overmotivated, the Lyonnais sometimes confused speed and haste in the decision-making zone.

However, Lyon thought to make it 2-0 through Ernest Nuamah after a press on Larsonneur from Mikautadze, who touched the ball with his elbow in the action, prompting referee Willy Delajod to cancel the goal after consulting the video assistance (81r).

As a result, Olympique Lyonnais remained under the threat of a return from Saint-Etienne until the end. And at the end of the game, Sissoko, again, could have equalized but, too short, missed his recovery on a cross from Léo Petrot cleared by Nicolas Tagliafico (8th 7th) while Perri stopped a shot from Aïmen Moueffek (90th + 2 ).

Ultimately, OL maintained their short lead until the end, to the great joy of their public while awaiting the return, set for April 20 at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium. Probably, there too, without Lyon supporters.

Earlier on Sunday, Rennes – who parted ways with their coach Julien Stéphan on Thursday – failed to create an electric shock and collapsed against Vincent Sierro's Toulouse (0-2) under the eyes of Jorge Sampaoli. The Argentinian, who could sign up with the Breton club at the start of the week, will have work to do: the Bretons are stuck in 13th place, just one point from the relegation zone.

Without Becir Omeragic (injured) and with Gabriel Barès remaining on the bench, Montpellier reassured itself at home by beating Brest of Edimilson Fernandes (remained on the bench) 3-1, ending a series of five defeats in the league. The Héraultais, if they are still at the bottom, are getting closer to Le Havre, soundly beaten at home by Reims (0-3).

At the start of the afternoon, Nice managed to snatch a point against Lille (2-2), thanks to a goal at the very end of added time from young starter Tom Louchet. With 19 points, Lille remains 4th, one length behind Marseille and the podium, while this late equalization allows the Aiglons to maintain their momentum with seven matches without defeat in Ligue 1, and to appear in 6th place with 17 points.