Olympique Lyon has recorded an important victory in the battle for the Champions League spots in Ligue 1. A penalty kick caused by a Justin Kluivert handball led to a 2-0 victory for Peter Bosz’s team over OGC Nice. With this, Olympique Lyon narrows the gap with number three – a place that entitles you to participate in the preliminary round of the Champions League – Nice to five points at the end of the season.
Nice, which started with Kluivert in the starting line-up and Calvin Stengs and Pablo Rosario on the reserve bench, had a false start. Kluivert unfortunately got the ball on his arm after three minutes in his own penalty area, from which the ex-Ajacied clearly took advantage. The referee therefore had no choice but to put the ball on the spot. Moussa Dembélé went behind the ball and shot at goalkeeper Walter Benítez, who tapped the ball into the feet of Lucas Paquetá. The Brazilian cashed in on the rebound, but had caught up too early, so the penalty had to be taken again. This time Dembélé managed to outwit Benítez: 1-0.
Lyon takes the lead early on! †
Justin Kluivert makes unfortunate hands, Moussa Dembele uses the opportunity for the home team ??#ZiggoSport #Ligue1 #OLOGCN pic.twitter.com/w3YPZfYETt— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) February 12, 2022
The game went back and forth for a long time without creating huge opportunities. After half an hour, Karl Toko Ekambi caused some stir again by placing a ball towards the right crossroads, but Benítez defused the attempt in a stylish way. Nice was powerless offensively and did not put Anthony Lopes to the test once in the first act.
Justin Kluivert and co in trouble ??
On a pass from Ndombele, Toko Ekambi taps in for 2-0 ???#ZiggoSport #Ligue1 #OLOGCN pic.twitter.com/rA2YxvL2YD
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) February 12, 2022
Shortly after the break, Olympique Lyon managed to expand the margin. Tanguy Ndombele got the ball somewhat fortunately at his feet inside the penalty area and served Ekambi, who slid the 2-0 against the ropes on the line. There was no change in that score for the remainder of the game, despite Bosz’s team having opportunities to further increase the score. Tino Kadewere, however, failed to face Benítez.
Montpellier – Lille OSC 0-1
With Sven Botman and former FC Groningen defender Gabriel Gudmundsson within the lines, Lille managed to win again after two defeats in a row. Xeka scored the only goal fifteen minutes before the end. A shot by Benjamin André stayed within the penalty area and Xeka gratefully took advantage of the fact that the ball could not be cleared. Lille bounces back over Montpellier due to the narrow victory and is currently eighth in Ligue 1.
| No. | Team | m | W | G | V | † | Pnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris Saint Germain | 24 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 33 | 59 |
| 2 | Olympique Marseille | 23 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 16 | 43 |
| 3 | OGC Nice | 24 | 13 | 4 | 7 | 15 | 42 |
| 4 | Strasbourg | 23 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 16 | 38 |
| 5 | Stade Rennes | 24 | 11 | 4 | 9 | 21 | 37 |
| 6 | Olympique Lyon | 24 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 37 |
| 7 | AS Monaco | 23 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 36 |
| 8 | Lille OSC | 24 | 9 | 8 | 7 | -3 | 35 |
| 9 | Montpellier | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 34 |
| 10 | RC Lens | 23 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 33 |
| 11 | Nantes | 23 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 32 |
| 12 | Angers | 23 | 7 | 8 | 8 | -4 | 29 |
| 13 | Stade Brest | 23 | 7 | 7 | 9 | -7 | 28 |
| 14 | Reims | 23 | 6 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 27 |
| 15 | Clermont | 23 | 6 | 6 | 11 | -16 | 24 |
| 16 | Troyes AC | 23 | 5 | 6 | 12 | -11 | 21 |
| 17 | lorient | 23 | 4 | 8 | 11 | -18 | 20 |
| 18 | Metz | 23 | 4 | 8 | 11 | -19 | 20 |
| 19 | Girondins de Bordeaux | 23 | 4 | 8 | 11 | -24 | 20 |
| 20 | Saint Etienne | 23 | 4 | 6 | 13 | -22 | 18 |