Brest 2 Lyon 4
A goal and an assist for Alexandre Lacazette inspired Lyon to an entertaining 4-2 win over Brest, with the rejuvenated skipper now averaging a strike per game since Laurent Blanc’s appointment.
The visitors made the brighter start and created a number of early chances, as Rayan Cherki saw his shot pushed away by Marco Bizot.
The Pirates’ shot-stopper was soon called into action again to push away Tete’s angled effort, following some good link-up play with Lacazette.
The Lyon captain himself had a chance to break the deadlock himself moments later, but he would have been disappointed to see his header flash wide from Cherki’s excellent cross.
Lacazette quickly redeemed himself though, turning provider for Maxence Caqueret to score his first-ever Ligue 1 goal with a fine one-touch finish.
Brest responded well, with Steve Mounie and Mathias Pereira Lage going close, but the Portuguese was not to be denied on his next chance, as his free-kick took a big deflection off Karl Toko Ekambi to level the scores.
That joy was short-lived though, as two goals in the space of four minutes left the hosts with a mountain to climb heading into the break.
Chekri re-established Lyon’s lead with a fine finish after going one-on-one with Bizot, while Lacazette doubled Les Gones’ advantage from the penalty spot, after Caqueret’s strike struck Brendan Chardonnet’s arm.
In converting the spot kick, Lacazette moved on to 24 Ligue 1 career penalties since his French top-flight debut in May 2010, putting him closer to Wissam Ben Yedder’s league-best tally of 30 in this period.
Blanc’s men were threatening to run riot, and added a fourth when Tete rifled home a left-footed strike from Toko Ekambi’s excellent cross from the left flank just four minutes into the second half.
Bruno Grougi’s side looked to reduce the deficit, as Mounie’s header was tipped over the bar from Jean-Kevin Duverne’s enticing cross.
And Mounie managed to add his name to the scoresheet as a reward for his endeavours, with a fine searching header to meet Romain Del Castillo’s corner.
There was suddenly some hope of an unlikely comeback, but Lyon held firm to stay eighth with a healthy return of 24 points from 16 games played.
Subsequently, Brest remain in the Ligue 1 relegation zone, and are still yet to win consecutive league games this term.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon)
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PSG 2 Strasbourg 1
Mbappe scored a 96th minute penalty as Paris Saint-Germain snatched all three points in a nail-biting 2-1 win over Strasbourg at the Parc des Princes. Marquinhos scored at both ends and Neymar was sent off as the defending champions returned to Ligue 1 action in dramatic fashion.
Most of the spotlight surrounding PSG in recent weeks has stemmed from Mbappé and Lionel Messi’s epic World Cup final showdown, but it was a Brazilian duo that linked up to hand them an early lead.
Neymar’s free-kick from the left was placed perfectly on the six-yard line, where compatriot Marquinhos arrived, completely unmarked, to head beyond Matz Sels.
Adding to their advantage proved difficult for the Parisians, despite holding over 75% possession throughout the first half. Indeed, the tide started to turn before the interval with PSG’s famous complacency starting to set in.
Strasbourg, who’ve won just once in Ligue 1 all season, spurned a huge chance to level the contest through Kevin Gameiro, but the veteran forward was denied by Gianluigi Donnarumma before Ludovic Ajorque squandered the rebound.
Christophe Galtier’s men failed to heed the warnings and were punished early in the second half as Le Racing drew level.
Marco Verratti’s sloppy pass put his team in trouble, and Adrien Thomasson seized on the loose ball before his cross was inadvertently turned into his own net by Marquinhos.
Things went from bad to worse for the hosts’ Brazilian contingent as Neymar was sent off around the hour mark.
After his World Cup campaign ended in tears, there was very little reaction on display here as he was dismissed after receiving two yellow cards in as many minutes, the second of which was awarded for simulation inside the area.
PSG desperately struggled to create chances without one of their main creators on the pitch, but deep into stoppage time Mbappe stepped up. One of his trademark electric dribbles into the area forced Gerzino Nyamsi into a challenge, leading to the referee awarding a penalty.
Controversy followed, with Strasbourg unhappy at the decision, while PSG were furious that Marquinhos had tapped in seconds after the whistle had blown.
Clearly unfazed by the big occasion though, Mbappe converted from 12 yards and extended his side’s lead at the top of the Ligue 1 table in controversial fashion.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
