Misfiring Lacazette leads Lyon past Reims

Lazacette blasted a first-half spot-kick against the woodwork before netting just his second goal of the season shortly after as Lyon avoided a Champions League hangover on a particularly damp afternoon at the Stade Gerland.

It was just a second win in seven games in all competitions for OL, who pulled to within five points of Paris Saint-Germain, after they had suffered a damaging 1-0 home defeat against Valencia in Europe four days earlier.

"We put in a good first-half display but it wasn't as good in the second half when we began to retreat a bit," said Lazacette.

"The most important thing though is the three points though."

Lyon coach Hubert Fournier added: "We're not going through our best period in terms of confidence. We need to boost it and it's through winning matches that we can achieve that."

Meanwhile it was just a second reverse of the season for surprise package Reims as their five-match unbeaten run was brought to an end.

Lyon, soundly beaten at Bordeaux last weekend, were forced into an early reshuffle on Saturday when Milan Bisevac hobbled off after just six minutes and was replaced by Jordan Ferri.

Johny Placide, whose injury-time own goal handed Lyon a 2-1 win in the same fixture last season, made a smart low stop to turn behind a deflected strike from Lacazette midway through the first half.

Nicolas de Preville then tested Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes at the other end with a low drive that the Portuguese international pushed away at his near post.

The hosts were awarded a penalty on 41 minutes when Jaba Kankava handled inside the area but Reims were handed a reprieve as Lacazette smashed his spot-kick against the crossbar.

It was the second time Lacazette has failed to convert from the penalty spot this season following a costly miss in a 1-1 draw at nine-man Gent in the Champions League last month.

Last year's Ligue 1 Player of the Year redeemed himself, however, on the stroke of half-time as Lacazette exchanged passes with Claudio Beauvue before firing across Placide to put Lyon in front.

The frame of the goal came to Reims' rescue for a second time on 56 minutes with Beauvue sending a thumping header against the bar following a Mathieu Valbuena corner.

Placide then made a fine stop to tip over a stinging long-range effort from Lacazette with substitute Grejohn Kyei squandering a glorious chance to level for Reims on 75 minutes after a wonderful ball in from Diego on the left. 

Prince Oniangue nearly snatched a point for the visitors at the death but Lopes threw himself to his right to palm away the Congo midfielder's scissor kick.

Later, in-form Nice will look for a fourth consecutive win when they host Nantes, while promoted Angers are at home to Bastia.

Troyes and bottom side Gazelec Ajaccio, who face Guingamp and Toulouse respectively, will bid to belatedly register their first victory this term.

All eyes will be on the Parc des Princes on Sunday when league leaders PSG take on bitter rivals Marseille in Le Classique.

Second-placed Saint-Etienne visit Caen with third-placed Rennes at Monaco and Bordeaux making the trip to Lorient.

On Friday, Lille got a much-needed boost with Sofiane Boufal and Djibril Sidibe lifting the northerners to a 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Montpellier.