Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 Athletic Bilbao: Late Briand winner maintains perfect record
Olympique Lyonnais maintained its 100 percent record in Group I as the club defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in the Europa League at Stade de Gerland on Thursday evening.
Lisandro Lopez opened the scoring midway through the second half, before Ibai Gomez cancelled it out with a sumptuous half volley from distance after sustained pressure from the visiting side.
Despite a frantic effort, Les Gones would reclaim the advantage as Jimmy Briand tapped into an empty net to leave Athletic on the edge of Europa League elimination.
The French side fielded Samuel Umtiti for his first start of the season at left back, while also resting Bafetimbi Gomis with Marcelo Bielsa preferring Aritz Aduriz to Fernando Llorente up front in a surprisingly slow start in the Rhone Valley.
Neither side could exactly assert authority in the opening stages of the encounter, as Lyon was denied a decent opportunity by the offside flag. Nevertheless, the first chance of the game fell to Steed Malbranque, who opted for goal, rather than a continuation of a move.
At the other end, Athletic was penetrating, and the progress was curtailed by a fine Remy Vercoutre save. Aduriz found space in the box to fire a considerably acute shot at the goalkeeper who was equal to it, parrying away to safety.
Remi Garde's men were far more solid at the back than in their previous Europa League encounter - a nervy 4-3 win over Israeli outfit Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona, and the home side was looking to quash any threat. Oscar De Marcos caused slight alarm with a fine touch yards in front of Dejan Lovren, before Bakary Kone's intervention.
The Croatia international redeemed himself seconds later, as a poor Anthony Reveillere back pass was cut out by Aduriz, with Lovren producing a brilliant sliding tackle to thwart the visiting team once more, before Malbranque further tested Gorka Iraizoz with a stinging low effort.
The second half was equally slow in tempo, though signs of an imminent goal were growing as De Marcos raced through on the wing. He again opted to test Vercoutre, rather than squaring for waiting teammates.
Nevertheless, a goal did arrive soon after. Reveillere delivered in an angled cross on the right-wing, which was met powerfully by Lopez, who headed past Iraizoz and into the net for his 25th European goal on 54 minutes.
Los Leones were denied by the woodwork two minutes later, as a fine Iker Muniain pass opened up Andoni Iraola on the wing. Vercoutre inexplicably rushed out to meet the defender, who lobbed the goalkeeper before clipping the bar, as Aduriz surprisingly wasted the rebound with a poor finish.
Marcelo Bielsa's men were once more denied as Ander Iturraspe's weighted pass into an on-side Markel Susaeta failed to take advantage of some sloppy play by the Lyon goalkeeper.
Aduriz was sacrificed for Llorente midway through the second half, as Bilbao searched for the equalizer, but they were close to falling further behind as substitute Gomis held off Iturraspe before firing inches wide.
Despite sustained pressure, the visiting side was rewarded finally. A speculative lofted ball from Iraola was helped on by the powerful Llorente, as substitute Gomez struck an exquisite half volley into the net, and send the travelling support into delirium.
Lyon pressure to regain their advantage, and only a world-class stop by Iraizoz would stop Gomis from achieving that, after the dread locked forward let fly with a dipping effort from range, before the goalkeeper repeated the trick once more to prevent the substitute.
The frantic end to the match continued as Susaeta latched onto Llorente's pass, before seeing his goal-bound effort tipped over by Vercoutre, as Lyon hit on the counter with five minutes to go.
The winner came as Gomis' effort was parried into the path of Briand, who would be afforded an easy tap-in to condemn last season's runner up to a second defeat in the group.
Lyon tops Group I with a 100 percent record, eight points ahead of the Basque outfit, which will now be seeking revenge at San Mames in two weeks' time.
Olympique Lyonnais maintained its 100 percent record in Group I as the club defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in the Europa League at Stade de Gerland on Thursday evening.
Lisandro Lopez opened the scoring midway through the second half, before Ibai Gomez cancelled it out with a sumptuous half volley from distance after sustained pressure from the visiting side.
Despite a frantic effort, Les Gones would reclaim the advantage as Jimmy Briand tapped into an empty net to leave Athletic on the edge of Europa League elimination.
The French side fielded Samuel Umtiti for his first start of the season at left back, while also resting Bafetimbi Gomis with Marcelo Bielsa preferring Aritz Aduriz to Fernando Llorente up front in a surprisingly slow start in the Rhone Valley.
Neither side could exactly assert authority in the opening stages of the encounter, as Lyon was denied a decent opportunity by the offside flag. Nevertheless, the first chance of the game fell to Steed Malbranque, who opted for goal, rather than a continuation of a move.
At the other end, Athletic was penetrating, and the progress was curtailed by a fine Remy Vercoutre save. Aduriz found space in the box to fire a considerably acute shot at the goalkeeper who was equal to it, parrying away to safety.
Remi Garde's men were far more solid at the back than in their previous Europa League encounter - a nervy 4-3 win over Israeli outfit Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona, and the home side was looking to quash any threat. Oscar De Marcos caused slight alarm with a fine touch yards in front of Dejan Lovren, before Bakary Kone's intervention.
The Croatia international redeemed himself seconds later, as a poor Anthony Reveillere back pass was cut out by Aduriz, with Lovren producing a brilliant sliding tackle to thwart the visiting team once more, before Malbranque further tested Gorka Iraizoz with a stinging low effort.
The second half was equally slow in tempo, though signs of an imminent goal were growing as De Marcos raced through on the wing. He again opted to test Vercoutre, rather than squaring for waiting teammates.
Nevertheless, a goal did arrive soon after. Reveillere delivered in an angled cross on the right-wing, which was met powerfully by Lopez, who headed past Iraizoz and into the net for his 25th European goal on 54 minutes.
Los Leones were denied by the woodwork two minutes later, as a fine Iker Muniain pass opened up Andoni Iraola on the wing. Vercoutre inexplicably rushed out to meet the defender, who lobbed the goalkeeper before clipping the bar, as Aduriz surprisingly wasted the rebound with a poor finish.
Marcelo Bielsa's men were once more denied as Ander Iturraspe's weighted pass into an on-side Markel Susaeta failed to take advantage of some sloppy play by the Lyon goalkeeper.
Aduriz was sacrificed for Llorente midway through the second half, as Bilbao searched for the equalizer, but they were close to falling further behind as substitute Gomis held off Iturraspe before firing inches wide.
Despite sustained pressure, the visiting side was rewarded finally. A speculative lofted ball from Iraola was helped on by the powerful Llorente, as substitute Gomez struck an exquisite half volley into the net, and send the travelling support into delirium.
Lyon pressure to regain their advantage, and only a world-class stop by Iraizoz would stop Gomis from achieving that, after the dread locked forward let fly with a dipping effort from range, before the goalkeeper repeated the trick once more to prevent the substitute.
The frantic end to the match continued as Susaeta latched onto Llorente's pass, before seeing his goal-bound effort tipped over by Vercoutre, as Lyon hit on the counter with five minutes to go.
The winner came as Gomis' effort was parried into the path of Briand, who would be afforded an easy tap-in to condemn last season's runner up to a second defeat in the group.
Lyon tops Group I with a 100 percent record, eight points ahead of the Basque outfit, which will now be seeking revenge at San Mames in two weeks' time.
