Olympique Lyon's Alexandre Lacazette (L) and Mohamed Yattara celebrate after scoring against Bastia during their French Ligue 1 soccer match at the Gerland Stadium in Lyon Wednesday. — Reuters
LYON — Lyon went back to the top of Ligue 1 Wednesday, two points in front of Paris Saint-Germain, after second-half goals from substitute Mohamed Yattara and captain Alexandre Lacazette sealed a 2-0 win at home against struggling Bastia.
PSG is now second two points behind Lyon but has a game in hand and could reclaim top spot when it hosts second-from-bottom Metz on April 28. Lyon is six points ahead of third-placed Monaco and seven on Marseille which is fourth after 32 matches.
“I was unhappy after the first half despite our good start but it was better after half-time,” said Lyon coach Hubert Fournier.
Lyon pushed hard in the first half creating several chances but came up against a tough Bastia defense and inspired goalkeeping from Alphonse Aerola.
The host had to wait until a flurry in the final 15 minutes to wrap up the three points as the Corsicans wilted following their 4-0 League Cup final defeat against PSG Saturday.
Yattara gave Lyon the advantage after 77 minutes when he picked up a Clement Grenier cross following a poorly cleared corner from the visiting defence.
It was Grenier's first match since last August after suffering a groin injury and he had come on 15 minutes earlier in place of Steed Malbranque, while Yattara was on the pitch just two minutes in place of Nabil Fekir when he found the net.
Eight minutes later Lacazette made it 2-0 after picking up a center from Clinton Njie for his league-leading 25th Ligue 1 goal of the season, equalling the record of Lyon's Andre Guy back in the 1968-1969 season. The goals confirmed Lyon's domination of the match, following a disappointing first half.
Only Jordan Ferri (6), Njie (42) and a Fekir free kick just before the break had in any way threatened Areola, while Lacazette missed a shot off a Malbranque centre after 41 minuets.
The defeat is another blow for Bastia which has taken just one point from a possible 12 in its last four matches and remains in 14th just two points above the drop zone, as it hosts Reims Saturday in a game which could be crucial to its top flight status next season.
Genoa downs Parma
Bottom-of-the-table Parma, shock winner over Serie A leader Juventus Saturday, was brought down to earth Wednesday when it lost 2-0 at Genoa.
Iago Falque and Leonardo Pavoletti scored in each half in a match that had been postponed from March because of Parma's financial problems.
Parma, which has been declared bankrupt and has not paid their players all season, stayed five points adrift at the bottom with 16 points from 30 games, having had three deducted for breaching Serie A financial regulations.
Roberto Donadoni's team had staged a mini-revival, taking seven points from its previous three games, but Wednesday's defeat looks to have scuppered any hopes of an escape act.
Genoa quickly took control and Falque put it ahead when he side-footed in Marco Borriello's cross after Parma had lost possession in midfield.
Substitute Pavoletti settled the match in the 76th minute when he ran on to Diego Perotti's through pass to fire past Antonio Mirante.
Genoa's win left it seventh with 44 points, five adrift of the Europa League places. — Agencies
