Depay helps Lyon maintain CL assault
Areola demands respect if PSG win French League
PARIS, France, April 14, (AFP): Memphis Depay grabbed a goal and an assist as Lyon secured a fifth straight Ligue 1 win by beating Amiens 3-0 on Saturday to continue their push for a place in next season’s Champions
Lyon’s Brazilian defender Rafael da Silva (right), vies with Amiens’ French defender Bakaye Dibassy (left), during the French L1 football match between Lyon (OL) and Amiens (SCO) on April 14, at the Groupama Stadium in DecinesCharpieu, near Lyon, central-eastern France. (AFP)
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Dutch international Depay, who had a hand in all five goals against Metz last weekend, set up Mariano Diaz for the opening goal against Amiens on 30 minutes.
The former Manchester United player gathered a pass from Bertrand Traore and rolled the ball across to Mariano, who shifted back onto his right foot before finishing inside the near post for his 18th league goal of the season. for the final 15 minutes as the hosts eventually wrapped up the three points.
Gurtner and Prince-Desir Gouano combined to frustrate Traore and then Depay in a matter of seconds, but the latter gave Lyon room to breathe when he volleyed in a cross from the Burkina Faso striker on 83 minutes.
Traore himself got on the scoresheet two minutes later, following up after Fekir’s effort was blocked to seal a victory that moved Lyon three points clear of fourth-placed Marseille.
Rudi Garcia’s Marseille, who advanced to the semifinals of the Europa League on Thursday with a thrilling 5-3 aggregate defeat of RB Leipzig, are back in domestic action away to Troyes on Sunday.
When Paris Saint-Germain host Monaco on Sunday seeking to seal the Ligue 1 title, Alphonse Areola will be living his dream, but the young ‘keeper still faces challenges.
First, he has to keep out Monaco, who last season ended PSG’s run of four consecutive titles and this time sit second, 14 points behind with six rounds to play.
“Last year they took the title from us and that hurt us because this club is in the habit of winning the league every year,” the 25-year old told AFP in an interview. “So it’s even more symbolic against them.