Olympique Lyonnais 4-1 OGC Nice: Lacazette nets hat-trick as Lyon defeat Nice in dominant fashion
Alexandre Lacazette achieved the significant milestone of 150 Ligue 1 goals, as his hat-trick propelled Olympique Lyonnais to a 4-1 triumph over Nice at the Groupama Stadium, thereby extending their unbeaten streak in the league to eight matches.
The match commenced at a frenetic pace, with Lacazette putting the home team ahead just four minutes into the game. The Lyon captain executed a poacher’s finish, sliding in to convert Clinton Mata’s cross with his outstretched right foot.
It appeared that Nice had equalized merely three minutes later when Evann Guessand scored from a Mohamed-Ali Cho assist. However, the goal was disallowed after a review by the video assistant referee, as referee Bastien Dechepy penalized Pablo Rosario for a foul on Nicolás Tagliafico during the buildup.
Nice did manage to level the score with a goal reminiscent of Lacazette’s opener. In the 22nd minute, Cho set up Sofiane Diop, who executed a sliding finish at the far post.
The match maintained its exhilarating tempo, with Lacazette’s header from Fofana’s cross being expertly saved by Marcin Bułka.
Nevertheless, Lacazette struck again to reach his milestone, delivering another impressive first-time finish in the box, this time from Said Benrahma’s pass.
Pierre Sage’s team increased their lead before the interval, as Jordan Veretout netted his first goal for Lyon with a stunning right-footed volley from the edge of the area.
Les Aiglons believed they might have been awarded a penalty at the beginning of the second half when VAR prompted Dechepy to review a potential foul involving Duje Caleta-Car and Guessand in the penalty area.
However, to the astonishment of Franck Haise, no penalty was given. Tanguy Ndombele then came agonizingly close to reducing the deficit with a sliding attempt to connect with a left-wing cross, but he misjudged his finish, allowing Nicolas Tagliafico to clear the threat.
Les Gones made their mark once more as Lacazette completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was instrumental again, prompting Dechepy to review the incident on the pitchside monitor, where he concluded that Yaël Nandjou had handled the ball within the penalty area. Lacazette confidently converted the penalty, sending Bułka in the opposite direction, which effectively sealed the match.
It was an impressive performance for Lyon and their dynamic forward Lacazette, who now ranks third in Ligue 1 goals scored in the 21st century, trailing only Wissam Ben Yedder (161) and Kylian Mbappe (191).
With this victory, Lyon ascends to fifth place in the standings, surpassing Nice, whose own eight-match unbeaten streak in the league has come to an end, following a 4-1 defeat to Rangers in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday.
SportsLigue