Lyon turned in a vintage performance at the Groupama Stadium to crush hapless Angers 6-0 and consolidate their good start to the season under new manager Sylvinho. The home fans got their first look at the new signings and witnessed some exciting attacking football capped by some stunning goals. Back to back clean sheets suggest that Lyon have already solved some of last season’s defensive frailties and this performance bodes well for the season ahead.
It was an unchanged starting line-up from last weekend’s 3-0 win at Monaco with home debuts for new signings Youssouf Koné at left-back, Joachim Andersen at centre-back and Thiago Mendes on the right of the midfield three. Jeff Reine-Adélaïde, who was signed from Angers for €25 million during the week was unavailable due to the conditions of his transfer deal.
Starting XI
Lopes – Koné, Denayer, Andersen, Dubois, – Aouar, Tousart, Thiago Mendes, – Depay, Dembélé, Traore.
Subs: Terrier (Dembélé 66′), Jean Lucas (Thiago Mendes 69′), Tete (Dubois 70′)
Lyon opened the scoring in the eleventh minute when Houssem Aouar was fed by Thiago Mendes and surged forwards to the edge of the box from where he unleashed a powerful shot past Butelle in the Angers goal. The visitors were unruffled by the early setback and gave as good as they got in the ensuing twenty minutes, a period characterised by robust challenges from both sides.
The next goal was going to shape the rest of the game and it came from Dembélé in the 36th minute after two Angers defenders failed to control a loose ball into the area. Memphis Depay increased the advantage shortly before half time, having been played through by the impressive Aouar. As with the second goal, the shot was very close to the Angers ‘keeper and Butelle with have been disappointed not to keep it out.
Lyon carried on where they had left off at the start of the second half with the Aouar-Depay combination again proving decisive. This time the assist was a peach of a lob which Depay collected alone in front of the keeper and easily slotted home. Moussa Dembélé got his second of the game in the 65th minute and new signing Jean Lucas came off the bench for his home debut to wrap up the scoring with his first touch in the 72nd minute after some slick trickery from Depay on the byline.
There were good performances throughout the Lyon team and nine goals scored with none conceded in their first two matches leaves them sitting pretty at the top of the table. Next up, it’s Monpellier away.