Lyon down Nancy, on track for Europe

AFP

PARIS LYON remained on track to qualify for next season’s Champions League after cruising past relegation-battling Nancy 3-0 on Sunday.

Bafetimbi Gomis struck two second half goals to take his season’s tally to 16, while Yoann Gourcuff was also on target as Lyon recorded their third victory in four to take a three-point lead in the race for the third and final Champions League place.

Nancy remain one point clear of the drop zone with three games remaining after their six-game unbeaten streak came to an end.

A relatively uneventful first half in Nancy saw visiting goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, making just his second start in the French top-flight in the absence of long-term injury casualty Remy Vercoutre, produce a smart low save to deny Benjamin Moukandjo on the quarter hour.

Lisandro Lopez then fired just wide from distance for Lyon before Paul Alo’o Efoulou sent an acrobatic effort narrowly over Lopes’ crossbar just prior to half-time.

Gomis replaced Lisandro after the break, making an immediate impact as he escaped Jordan Loties inside the box and drilled past Damien Gregorini from close range three minutes after his introduction.

Yassine Benzia almost doubled Lyon’s advantage as he ran onto Maxime Gonalons’ clever through ball and rounded Gregorini, only for Vincent Muraroti to make a fine sliding intervention to turn the ball behind.

Lopes then made a sharp stop to thwart Moukandjo as Gourcuff eventually put the game beyond Nancy’s reach on 80 minutes as he drilled home Gueida Fofana’s pass from the edge of the box.

Gourcuff turned provider for Gomis’ second, Lyon’s third, a minute from time as he picked out the France striker in the area for Gomis to shrug off Sebastien Puygrenier and place a crisp finish beyond Gregorini.

Earlier, Nice strengthened their quest for European football next season, climbing to fourth, three points behind Lyon, following a 3-0 victory at slumping Rennes.