Kasper Dolberg scored twice as OGC Nice beat Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday, gaining revenge for their defeat by the same opponents in the Coupe de France during the week.
THE MATCH
Dolberg got in front of Marcelo to convert an assist from Hicham Boudaoui in the 63rd minute for his and his team’s second goal of this game on the Côte d’Azur, which was marked by two sendings-off in the first half as both sides finished with 10 men.
Lyon had won 2-1 at the same venue in the last 16 of the Coupe de France on Thursday evening thanks to a last-gasp Houssem Aouar penalty, a result which saw them complete January with seven wins from seven matches in all competitions - including their penalty shoot-out triumph over LOSC in the Coupe de la Ligue semi-finals.
OL had also emerged 2-1 winners in the last Ligue 1 Conforama encounter between the clubs in late November, in a match which also saw both sides have a player sent off. Fernando Marçal walked in the 34th minute of that game and he lasted just 22 minutes here, seeing a straight red card for bringing down Boudaoui on his way into the penalty box, denying the Nice winger a run on goal.
Toko Ekambi levels
Danish striker Dolberg then opened the scoring in the 33rd minute, pouncing to score the rebound after a Pierre Lees-Melou effort - deflected off Jason Denayer - had been stopped by Ciprian Tătăruşanu.
Lyon drew level on the stroke of half-time, though, with Karl Toko Ekambi grabbing his second goal in as many league outings after arriving from Villarreal, scrambling in Aouar’s cross. And the outlook appeared even brighter for them as Nice were reduced to 10 men in first-half stoppage time, Adam Ounas seeing a second yellow card after clashing with Marcelo.
However, Dolberg made the difference in the second half, and Nice are now unbeaten in six league outings, form that has allowed them to move level on points with Lyon again in a crowded table.
THE PLAYER: Kasper Dolberg
Nice spent big to bring Dolberg to the club from Ajax at the start of the season, and this is exactly why. His goals were the difference here, following on from his strike in last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Stade Rennais FC. He now has eight for the season.
THE STAT: 4
There have been four red cards in two league meetings between the clubs this season, with two of them going to Lyon defender Fernando Marçal.
