Nabil anchors Lyon’s victory
Paris, Sept. 11: Nabil Fekir struck his fourth goal in five matches as Lyon defeated Guingamp 2-1 on Sunday, while Rennes belatedly secured their first win of the season with a 3-1 victory at Marseille.
Mariano Diaz curled in a 19th-minute opener for hosts Lyon as the former Real Madrid striker netted his fourth Ligue 1 goal since his close-season arrival from Spain.
Marcus Thuram, the 20year-old son of former French World Cup winner Lilian Thuram, headed in his first goal in the French top flight to draw Guingamp level on 71 minutes, but Fekir replied with the winner a minute later as Lyon extended their unbeaten start.
“We suffered a lot today but we were united,” said Lyon coach Bruno Genesio. “We got the three points in a slightly fortunate manner looking at the whole game, but that makes up for those we lost over the last two matches,” he added.
Marseille crashed to a second straight heavy defeat as Rennes stunned the hosts at the Stade Velodrome with goals from Wahbi Khazri and Benjamin Bourigeaud inside the opening 10 minutes.
On-loan Sunderland midfielder Khazri deftly backheeled an Ismaila Sarr cross just inside Steve Mandanda’s far post after only two minutes and Bourigeaud then rifled in a second from 30 yards.
Marseille’s promising start to the campaign was abruptly halted by a 6-1 thrashing at Monaco prior to the international break, and Rudi Garcia’s side found no solace against a team that entered the weekend second from bottom.
A miserable evening for Marseille was compounded when Joris Gnagnon slotted in a third for Rennes on 70 minutes, although Morgan Sanson reduced the deficit late on.
Firmin Mubele wasted a chance for a fourth in stoppage time when he blazed a penalty well over the crossbar.
“I’m sad, I don’t want to see my Marseille play a first half like that,” said Garcia, insisting he wasn’t overly worried about his team’s recent struggles.
“I don’t like losing, it’s awful tonight but you have to stay quiet and keep a low profile.
“Of course there is work to do and a long way to go, but this team is much better,” he added.