LYON: Striker Moussa Dembele’s first-half penalty secured a 1-0 win for Olympique Lyonnais against bitter rivals St Etienne in their Ligue 1 match on Friday.

Dembele, who also scored the winner from the spot last week at Troyes, sent St Etienne goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni the wrong way in the 15th minute for his sixth league goal this season after he was fouled in the box by Timothee Kolodziejczak.

This season, both sides have been disappointing.

Lyon expected to fight for a top-three finish but have been largely inconsistent under coach Peter Bosz to lag 19 points behind leaders Paris St Germain.

St Etienne’s fortunes have been even worse. France’s most decorated club won just two of their 21 matches and are rooted at the bottom of the standings following their seventh straight league defeat.

Lyon dominated proceedings after Dembele’s goal but lacked efficiency in the final third as St Etienne struggled to create chances.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2022