PARIS (AP) — Lyon rallied from 2-0 down to draw at Lille 2-2 to stay in second place in the French league, extending its unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions on Saturday.
In an exciting match, Lille dominated the first half and scored through strikers Loic Remy and Nicolas Pepe.
After missing a second-half penalty, Lyon equalized with goals from forwards Bertrand Traore and Moussa Dembele.
Lille almost won at the end but Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes made a stunning one-handed save from Pepes powerful shot. Lille is one point behind Lyon in third place, but Montpellier can reclaim third if it draws at Monaco later Saturday.
Lyon is unbeaten in the Champions League and impressed going forward in a 2-2 home draw with Manchester City this week. Lyons young midfielders Tanguy Ndombele (21 years old) and Housse Aouar (20) received high praise from City coach Pep Guardiola for their performances in that game.
But they were just as ineffective as their teammates in the first half.
The former Chelsea striker Remy volleyed in neatly from Mehmet Celiks cross from the right to put Lille ahead after 17 minutes and the second goal came in the 28th after Aouar lost the ball in midfield. Remy then set up Pepe for his ninth league goal of the season. With Lyon reeling, Lille forward Jonathan Ikone hit the post on the stroke of halftime.
Memphis Depay struck a penalty over the crossbar, but then expertly set up Traore with a back-heeled pass in the 63rd. Depay then hit the crossbar 10 minutes from time before Traore expertly flicked the ball on for Demble to stroke home.
Runaway leader PSG, which beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, is looking for a 15th straight league win when it plays at Bordeaux on Sunday.
PARIS (AP) — Lyon rallied from 2-0 down to draw at Lille 2-2 to stay in second place in the French league, extending its unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions on Saturday.
In an exciting match, Lille dominated the first half and scored through strikers Loic Remy and Nicolas Pepe.
After missing a second-half penalty, Lyon equalized with goals from forwards Bertrand Traore and Moussa Dembele.
Lille almost won at the end but Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes made a stunning one-handed save from Pepes powerful shot. Lille is one point behind Lyon in third place, but Montpellier can reclaim third if it draws at Monaco later Saturday.
Lyon is unbeaten in the Champions League and impressed going forward in a 2-2 home draw with Manchester City this week. Lyons young midfielders Tanguy Ndombele (21 years old) and Housse Aouar (20) received high praise from City coach Pep Guardiola for their performances in that game.
But they were just as ineffective as their teammates in the first half.
The former Chelsea striker Remy volleyed in neatly from Mehmet Celiks cross from the right to put Lille ahead after 17 minutes and the second goal came in the 28th after Aouar lost the ball in midfield. Remy then set up Pepe for his ninth league goal of the season. With Lyon reeling, Lille forward Jonathan Ikone hit the post on the stroke of halftime.
Memphis Depay struck a penalty over the crossbar, but then expertly set up Traore with a back-heeled pass in the 63rd. Depay then hit the crossbar 10 minutes from time before Traore expertly flicked the ball on for Demble to stroke home.
Runaway leader PSG, which beat Liverpool 2-1 in the Champions League on Wednesday, is looking for a 15th straight league win when it plays at Bordeaux on Sunday.
