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PARIS (AFP) –
Lyon’s French forward Bafetimbi Gomis celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match Olympique Lyonnais (OL) vs Stade de Reims at the Gerland Stadium in Lyon, central-eastern France. Lyon moved provisionally out in front in the French league title race on Sunday after a 3-0 home win over promoted Reims.
Lyon moved out in front in the French league title race Sunday, sending promoted Reims packing 3-0 while Marseille went down to a 1-0 loss in Bordeaux after previous leaders Paris Saint Germain slumped to a home loss to nine-man Rennes.
An Anthony Weber own goal on the stroke of half-time set Lyon, who won all of their seven league crowns consecutively between 2002 and 2008, on their way and Bafetimbi Gomis, who struck the winner for France in midweek in their friendly away to Italy, hit the clincher with 17 minutes remaining.
Argentinian striker Lisandro added the gloss with the third in the final minute.
The three points moved Lyon provisionally two points clear of PSG, who were lethargic in the extreme on Saturday in bowing 2-1 to a Rennes side who had Benoit Costil and Cameroon midfielder Jean II Makoun dismissed in quick succession but who held on after Julien Feret’s freekick before the break proved to be the winner.
PSG were missing suspended Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic but coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose side have now dropped eight points from their past three games, said there could be no excuses.
“It’s incredible – we didn’t have a good attitude out there. Something will change – the attitude of the players will change. I am very annoyed,” said the Italian.
Marseille, title winners in 2010, were unable to take advantage of PSG’s slip after a Yoan Gouffran goal for Bordeaux seven minutes after the interval lifted the latter into second place a point behind Lyon and a point clear of PSG and Marseille.
To make matters worse for Marseille, who suffered their third loss of the campaign, France international midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, on target alongside Gomis in the win over the Italians, limped off with a knock late on.
The visitors missed injured strikers Loic Remy and Andre-Pierre Gignac as well as the suspended Jordan Ayew and to add insult to injury they had Brazilian Lucas Mendes dent off in the closing stages.
Earlier Sunday, struggling Nice edged 1-0 a Toulouse side who missed out on going level on points with fourth-placed Saint Etienne.
Saint Etienne had just missed going top for a few hours Saturday night after they were held 2-2 at modest Evian despite a double from Ivorian striker Max Gradel.
And reigning champions Montpellier, just three wins in their opening dozen league games and already out of contention in their maiden season in the Champions League, could only manage a 1-1 draw at Valenciennes, who stay fifth.
