THE MATCH

Lyon came into the game with 29 points from 21 matches, equalling their worst total in the 21st century. They climbed from ninth to second in the remaining 17 games that season, but such a streak looks beyond Laurent Blanc's side, who failed to sparkle again in the Champagne region.

The 2-0 win over Ajaccio in Corsica last weekend had ended a three-game wait for a victory, but the disappointing goalless draw with Brest in midweek had meant clouds of doubt accompanied the seven-time French champions as they headed north.

A tentative first half was symptomatic of their troubles. Dejan Lovren, brought in this winter to provide stability, was nearly caught out by Lucien Agoumé as the Croatian dallied on the ball in his own penalty area and Anthony Lopes had to be quick to snuff out any danger (3').

In the opposite goal, Gauthier Gallon was barely tested until — with just two minutes left in the half — he was picking the ball out of his net. Barcola had scored his first senior goal in the Coupe de France win over Metz last month, but netted for the first time in Ligue 1 Uber Eats when he got in front of Jackson Porozo to direct Maxence Caqueret's cross beyond Gallon (43').

Xavier Chavalerin thought he had levelled in added time, but Agoumé was adjudged offside in the build-up to the former Reims man drilling a shot beyond Lopes (45+3'). The Lyon goalkeeper then denied Mama Baldé early in the second half (52') as Troyes, who had failed to win in four, sought to exploit their visitors' fragile confidence.

Gallon denied Cherki with a smart save at his near post (53') before the OL prodigy did manage to double Lyon's lead. Johann Lepenant cut out Rony Lopes' misjudged pass, and found Cherki, who jinked into the penalty area before prodding home at the near post (59').

Rony Lopes fired a good chance over (60') before getting his team back into the game. The former Lille and Monaco man played a one-two with Andreas Bruus before clipping a shot past Lopes (62') for his fourth goal of the season.

Gallon blocked a well-struck Lacazette shot (85') before the captain fired into the top corner from just inside the penalty area in the dying seconds (90+3') for his 13th league goal of the campaign to cap a welcome win that takes OL to within eight points off the top five and a European qualifying spot ahead of the weekend's remaining games. 

THE PLAYER: Bradley Barcola

The 20-year-old has long been touted as a the potential 'next big thing' to come out of the Lyon youth academy, and now getting a run in the side — this was his third successive league start — he is beginning to show why. His pace, directness and eye for goal are a real boon for a Lyon side lacking in all three.

THE STAT: 4

Lyon have now won on their last four visits to Troyes, though this is the first time in that run that they have conceded a goal.

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