There is still life in Lyon! They beat Olympique de Marseille 1-0 on Sunday night to give worried fans a respite in their relegation scrap. Les Lyonnais got their revenge for the 3-0 humbling earlier in the season by winning 1-0 at the Groupama Stadium against a timid OM. Boosted by their numerous recent recruits, Lyon showed a much better performance and secured three points, allowing them to exit the relegation zone.It was a prestigious victory, a potentially pivotal one for Pierre Sage’s men, who climb to 15th place. However, the match began with a completely wild gesture from Amine Harit, attempting to lob Anthony Lopes right from the kickoff. But the first half largely favoured Lyon, who opened the scoring and could have even doubled their lead.Bon réveil les Gones 🔴🔵#OLOM pic.twitter.com/JibZFg5ny2— Olympique Lyonnais (@OL) February 5, 2024 On the right side, Ghanaian Ernest Nuamah showed off his speed and agility to make life difficult for another winter recruit, former Nantes player Quentin Merlin, who started under Gennaro Gattuso. Nuamah set up Alexandre Lacazette to open the scoring with a powerful cross to the far post (1-0, 37th minute). The two almost combined for a second goal on the same play, but this time the Lyon captain hit the post with his shot and then Pau Lopez with his rebound.After the break, Lyon remained sharp, with Gift Orban coming close to scoring his first goal for the club on his first start by redirecting a cross from Ainesley Maitland-Niles at the far post.After halftime, the match changed its dynamic with the entries of Jonathan Clauss and Faris Moumbagna, who brought oxygen to a struggling Marseille side. The French international, whom Marseille wanted to offload this winter, continued to push forward and create danger against a Lyon side increasingly pinned back.##NAJAVA_MECA_7845573##It’s no coincidence that Marseille’s first shot on target came from a Clauss cross, with a volley from Harit, which once again forced Lopes into an exceptional save. Then Azzedine Ounahi, pushed higher up the pitch, controlled and shot into the Lyon wall (69th minute).Decisive offensively in the first half, Maitland-Niles ended up being Lyon’s saviour after a one-two between Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Moumbagna late on, with Lopes beaten. Marseille continued to push but in vain.After a difficult start to the season, Olympique Lyonnais secured a prestigious victory in this Olympic clash, with positive feelings about their various winter recruits, starting with Nemanja Matic, who was particularly effective in midfield. Sage’s men reassure themselves and climb three points ahead of Metz, the first relegation candidate. As for Gennaro Gattuso’s team, they no longer progress in 2024 and remain in 8th place, three points behind Lens, the first European spot.
