Ajaccio entered their first Ligue 1 campaign since 2013/14 having conceded just 19 times in Ligue 2 last term - the second tier’s best record since 1993/94. However, they weren’t offered a warm welcome at Parc Olympique Lyonnais and conceded after 12 minutes. Intelligent link-up play around the visitors’ box saw the ball fall to the returning Alexandre Lacazette (31), allowing him to lay off Tete (22) who finished with a coldly clinical touch.
Tete was soon causing more problems, as his intelligent running behind L’Ours’ defence forced Cédric Avinel (35) to pull him down and concede a penalty that Lacazette confidently converted. In the 27th minute, Lyon were reduced to 10 men when Anthony Lopes (31) flew out of his goal and flattened Riad Nouri (37) after being beaten to the loose ball. After coming on for an unexpected debut the day before his 35th birthday, Rémy Riou (34) was beaten by Thomas Mangani’s (35) ensuing penalty, giving Ajaccio hope in his first appearance for the club.
That hope was then reduced again, as Romain Hamouma (35) was sent off on his debut when he followed up his earlier yellow card from a coming together with Lacazette by receiving another for elbowing Lucas Paqueta (24) in the face moments before HT. Despite this, Lyon started the second period quietly and Nouri flicked a wonderful effort towards goal on the hour mark, but Riou got his fingertips to it superbly.
Corentin Tolisso’s (28) introduction from the bench after his return from Bayern Munich got the biggest roar of the second half, and even though youngster Bradley Barcola (19) couldn’t take his late opportunity, Lyon saw out the win as they aim to move on from last season’s eight-place finish - their worst season-ending in over two decades. Meanwhile, Ajaccio were unable to add a Ligue 1 result to their seven-game unbeaten run away from home at the end of their Ligue 2 campaign.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Tete (Olympique Lyonnais)
