Nice downs Lyon to pull clear of Monaco

by

Agence France-Presse

40m ago

Eric Gaillard / Reuters

Paris – High-flyer Nice stretched its lead at the top of Ligue 1 with a 2-0 victory over 10-man Lyon on Friday after second-place Monaco crashed to defeat at Toulouse.

Nice captain Paul Baysse volleyed in a fifth-minute strike at the Allianz Riviera while Jean Seri swept in a second on 76 minutes to send Lucien Favre’s men four points clear at the summit.

Mario Balotelli had a penalty saved late on as Nice extended its unbeaten start to the campaign, but Lyon slumped to a fourth defeat in nine matches after it was forced to play a man down for over an hour with Nabil Fekir dismissed for an ugly stamp on Baysse.

Lyon faces Juventus at home in the Champions League next week, and the return of Alexandre Lacazette off the bench will at least have provided some comfort with the France striker missing the last month through injury.

Earlier, Toulouse roared back from a goal down to stun Monaco and maintain its impressive early-season form under Pascal Dupraz, whose side has already beaten reigning champion Paris Saint-Germain.