PLAYER RATINGS | Lyon 0-3 Lens: Les Sang et Or end OL’s winning run

On Sunday night, Lyon were hoping to make it 7 successive victories in all competitions as they welcomed an out-of-form Lens team who were winless in their last 4 matches. 

Lens had the upper hand in the early stages with some dangerous deliveries into the OL area but Lopes was able to deal with them well. Despite this, Lyon almost had the lead through Nuamah in the 14th minute. The Ghanaian hit a powerful effort from 25-yards which struck the post. 

Nuamah then had another big chance as Caqueret freed him on the break. However, bearing down on the Lens goal, he decided to shoot instead of pass to Caqueret or Benrahma and hit his shot straight at Samba. It was then Wahi’s turn to have a massive opportunity from Frankowski’s cross but Lopes was able to make a massive stop to deny the Lens man. 

However, Sotoca would then give Lens the lead. The French attacker did brilliantly to peel off the last defender and head home Costa’s cross come shot at the far post. Jake O’Brien was playing him onside and he took full advantage. Benrahma almost had an instant reply for OL cutting in from the left-flank but his effort was deflected wide. Lens led at the break.  

Lens were then awarded a penalty straight after the break with Caqueret adjudged to have handballed in the area. Wahi stepped up to take it and made no mistake with a low-driven penalty into the bottom corner. An increased lead was nothing more than Les Sang et Or deserved after taking real control of the match. Nuamah then had another opportunity with a header at the back post but found his effort blocked. 

Lens began to make Lyon look very vulnerable at the back and control possession. OL looked unable to lay a glove on Lens until the entrance of Cherki enabled them to put a