Pressure’s on coach Genesio after Lyon lose again
Paris: Lyon’s alarming slump in form continued as they lost 31 at home to Guingamp despite leading scorer Alexandre Lacazette putting them in front at Parc OL.
Lacazette opened the scoring on Saturday with his seventh league goal of the campaign from the penalty spot but Guingamp turned the game on its head with two goals in the first seven minutes of the second period from Yannis Salibur and Marcus Coco.
Coco added another to complete the turnaround and condemn Lyon to a fifth defeat in their last six games in all competitions.
It was also a fifth loss in 10 Ligue 1 outings for Bruno Genesio’s side, who remain 10 points adrift of leaders Nice. Guingamp are fifth.
Such a poor start to the campaign for Lyon had not been contemplated after their outstanding run towards the end of last season, and the pressure is now very much on Genesio.
“It’s a big blow and hugely disappointing because we’ve lost at home for the second time this season,” lamented Genesio.
Lyon took the lead in the 37th minute when Lacazette – who missed a penalty in the 10 midweek Champions League loss to Juventus – netted from the spot after Maxime Gonalons had been fouled in the area. It was a first league goal since August for Lacazette.
Guingamp equalised when Jimmy Briand robbed youngster Mouctar Diakhaby in the area and set up Salibur, who fired home.
The Breton side were in front in the 52nd minute as Lyon cheaply gave the ball away in their own half and Briand was again the provider, squaring for Coco, who had an easy finish.
The home side’s misery was compounded as Guingamp struck again in the 77th minute, France Under21 international winger Coco dispossessing Rafael before running through to blast a shot past Anthony Lopes.
Lyon were denied a penalty when Lacazette went down in the box under a Jordan Ikoko challenge, and substitute Mathieu Valbuena was stretchered off in tears after falling awkwardly only minutes after coming on.
Monaco went second after destroying Montpellier 62 on Friday, with Radamel Falcao getting the principality club’s first goal from the penalty spot on his return after a month on the sidelines.
Toulouse missed a chance to leapfrog the champions Paris St Germain after they were held to a 00 draw at Angers, while Poland international Kamil Grosicki scored twice as Rennes defeated Nantes 21.
Elsewhere, Portugal’s Euro 2016 hero Eder netted Lille’s second goal in a 21 victory over Bastia, Bordeaux were held to a 11 draw at home to Nancy and Dijon grabbed a stoppagetime winner to beat Lorient 10.