Nice overcome to thump Lyon

Nice overcome to thump Lyon

Lyon were brought back down to earth in the most emphatic of fashions following their midweek Champions League win over Liverpool, with hosts Nice running riot with a 4-1 triumph at the Municipal du Ray.

After stealing a dramatic injury-time winner in their trip to Anfield, Claude Puel's side were thoroughly outplayed as they went four down before a late Ederson consolation.

By then, goals from Mamadou Bagayoko, David Hellebuyck and Loic Remy as well as an Aly Cissokho own-goal had decided the result.

There had earlier been drama when concerns over a possible swine flu diagnosis involving Drissa Diakite threatened the match taking place.

But after reporting the incident to the authorities, the game got the green light to continue.

Julien Sable, for Nice, and Jean de Makoun, for Lyon, both had early shots on goal before Bagayoko scored the opener after 17 minutes.

Remy made the goal with a fine run down the right, playing in Bagayoko who eased past Cris and rolled the ball home.

The second goal was again created by Remy, whose drilled cross into the danger area was accidentally turned goalwards by Cissokho.

Lyon were struggling to return fire, perhaps feeling the effects of their exploits against Liverpool, and Nice were content to sit on their lead for extended periods.

Lisandro Lopez threatened to break the pattern with a 60th-minute break, but David Ospina was alert in the home goal.

Hellebuyck added his name to the scoresheet with 21 minutes remaining, collecting Anthony Mounier's pass and rifling home from the edge of the area.

Sidney Govou was unlucky to see a superb lob of his own hit the crossbar two minutes later but by now it was all going Nice's way.

Indeed, with 74 minutes gone it was 4-0, Remy deservedly scoring with a deft finish that left goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre nowhere.

Ederson's consolation came in the 83rd minute when Ospina failed to get enough distance on his punch and the Brazilian converted.