Lyon draw blank in Lorient stalemate
In what is a comparably poor season as far as Lyon’s usual lofty standards are concerned, the hosts struggled to impose themselves during a first half that was dominated by the visitors. Looking like a threat with almost every attack, Lorient ought to have gone into the interval ahead, but rash finishing from Bamba Dieng saw the away side’s best chance of the half spurned. Stéphane Diarra would also flash a right-footed shot just wide of the far post, but ultimately neither side found a breakthrough before the break.
In need of a response, Lyon bounced back early in the second period, creating plenty of chances of their own. However, much like their opponents, poor finishing cost the home side from taking the lead. Bradley Barcola squirmed a close-range shot wide of the upright, whereas Rayan Cherki was able to beat shot-stopper Vito Mannone with a poked effort, but much to the frustration of the Lyon faithful, it fell the wrong side of the Lorient goal.
As the clock edged closer to FT, Lyon continued their desperate search for an opening goal. Barcola would come closest for the hosts, with the forward breaking in behind the Lorient backline, before rocketing a shot into the side netting. Regardless, the frustrations continue to grow for European-chasing Lyon, whose recent record in Ligue 1 at the Groupama Stadium sits at one win from six matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Rayan Cherki (Olympique Lyonnais)