Gomis scores for Lyon

Gomis scores for Lyon

Summer signing Bafetimbi Gomis scored his first goal for Lyon to give his new club their first win of the season at home to Valenciennes.

Gomis, who joined from St Etienne last month to help fill the void left by Karim Benzema's departure to Real Madrid, headed the winner in the 37th minute.

The victory was no less than Lyon - who are looking to regain the title they lost last season - deserved for a display of total domination from start to finish.

Only the woodwork and a string of saves from Valenciennes keeper Jean-Louis Leca stopped the home side from running away with it.

Cris headed just over from Michel Bastos' corner after seven minutes before Jean Makoun saw his left-foot volley blocked by Leca.

Lyon lost captain Sidney Govou to injury before the half-hour mark but it did not disrupt their rhythm.

And they were ahead in the 37th minute when Anthony Reveillere released Bastos, who crossed perfectly for France striker Gomis to send a header over Leca and underneath the crossbar.

The keeper pulled off a fantastic save four minutes before the break, though, to save a right-footed effort from Lisandro Lopez, another summer signing.

Leca's busy night continued into the second half and he dived to his left to keep out Ederson's free-kick on the hour-mark.

Lopez then turned and, with Leca beaten, fired into the side-netting, and the keeper was in the thick of the action again with a double save to stop Ederson's close-range shot.

Luck was on the keeper's side in the 85th minute when Ederson's bullet header from Miralem Pjanic's free-kick from the left came back off the left-hand post.

Leca certainly deserved the fortune, though, and pulled off a fine reflex save to deny Bastos two minutes from time to keep the gap at one.