Lyon ‘turn the page’ after Depay triple assist
PARIS: Lyon coach Rudi Garcia said his team had “turned the page” after captain Memphis Depay set up three goals in Sunday’s 3-2 win at Strasbourg to claim their first victory since August.
Dutch attacker Depay was the provider for Zimbabwe international forward Tino Kadewere and repeated the feat twice for Karl Toko Ekambi in the first half.
Habib Diallo and Jean-Eudes Aholou scored for the hosts but Lyon hung on and move up to ninth with their first three points since August, while Strasbourg remain in 18th with just one victory this season.
“The win was more than deserved. This team had the capacity to admit they had to turn the page,” Garcia said.
“The answer was on the pitch, three Depay assists and three goals in open play.”
Kadewere opened the scoring after 15 minutes, firing home first time from Depay’s long ball.
Depay then combined twice with Toko Ekambi before the 42-minute mark to make it 3-0.
The hosts fought back as Senegal’s Diallo cut the deficit just over a minute later.
Ivory Coast midfielder Aholou, on loan from Monaco, scored for the first time since the opening day of last season with a left-footed volley 10 minutes into the second half.
Depay, who was linked with a move to Barcelona during the transfer window, almost claimed a fourth assist but Marcelo’s header from a corner was blocked on the line.
Patrick Vieira’s Nice side eased to a 3-1 win at SaintEtienne to move up to fifth.
Pierre Lees-Malou opened the scoring for Nice before 20year-old Amine Gouiri added a second before half-time.
Adil Aouchiche pulled a goal back for Saint-Etienne on 57 minutes but Myziane Maolida completed the job for the southerners.
Either Lille or newlypromoted Lens can overtake reigning champions Paris Saint-German to go top of the table with victory in Sunday’s late match.
On Saturday, Marseille warmed up for their return to the Champions League next week with a 3-1 victory over Bordeaux.
Kylian Mbappe scored twice in PSG’s 4-0 win at Nimes on Friday.