Ligue 1 21/22, Round 24 – 12/2/22
LYON – 2 (Dembélé 8, Toko-Ekambi 52)
Anthony Lopes, 6
Léo Dubois, 6
Thiago Mendes, 6
Castello Lukeba, 7
Emerson Palmieri, 5
Maxence Caqueret, 8 – He was lucky to get away with being pickpocketed by Kluivert, eventually being saved by Lopes, before half time but that was his only error of the evening. His varied and intelligent passing and precise dribbling pushed Lyon forward throughout and many of his side’s more dangerous attacks originated via an astute Caqueret ball deep in midfield.
Tanguy Ndombele, 8 – Superb. Clearly keen to impress upon his return to Parc OL and played with a verve, confidence and intensity rarely seen since his departure. His clever reverse cross found Toko-Ekambi for the second and he could have had two more assists via a pair of intelligent through balls for Dembélé.
Lucas Paquetá, 7 – Linked play between Lyon’s various creative outlets well and his deft through ball should have resulted in an assist for Ekambi during the first half. Effortlessly skilful throughout and couldn’t be pinned down by Todibo or Dante.
Romain Faivre, 5
Karl Toko Ekambi, 7 – Lyon missed his direct style and pace during the AFCON and he again offered something the rest of Peter Bosz’s forwards don’t by stretching Nice’s defence while threatening in the channels and over the should of opposition full-backs. He stole in at the back post for the second.
Moussa Dembélé, 4 – As he was against Monaco last week, he often found himself a little isolated despite Lyon’s pressure as much of OL’s fluid passing around the box also happened around him. Nevertheless, he had plenty of chances to add to his opening penalty, which he had missed at the first attempt before a VAR enforced retake.
Others: Aouar 6, Kadewere 5, Henrique 5, Diomande 5.
NICE – 0
Walter Benítez, 5
Flavius Daniliuc, 3
Jean-Clair Todibo, 4
Dante, 4
Melvin Bard, 3 – A disappointing return to his former club as he looked repeatedly nervy and often was indecisive in possession, regularly put under pressure by OL’s fluid forward line.
Mario Lemina, 4
Morgan Schneiderlin, 4
Khéphren Thuram, 3
Justin Kluivert, 6 – He was unfortunate to give away the penalty but continued to be a direct and skilful threat for Nice, especially in the first half, and was central to most of Nice’s better forward play.
Andy Delort, 3
Amine Gouiri, 4
Others: Guessand 5, Lotomba 5, Rosario 5, Calude-Maurice 5, Brahimi 5.