Two goals in the second half gave Lyon a 2-0 Ligue 1 victory on the Breton coast Saturday against Lorient.
Nicolas Tagliafico and Mama Balde struck inside 20 minutes of the break to get Lyon back to winning ways after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at home to Lens.
The win sends Lyon above Toulouse and into tenth spot, now seven points clear of the danger zone.
The first period was a tactical affair, which the visitors dominated but could not find a way past Yvon Mvogo in the Lorient goal.
Argentinian defender Tagliafico finally gave Lyon the lead seven minutes after half-time when he dived to head in Clinton Mata’s cross.
Balde doubled the lead on 65 minutes, rounding Mvogo and holding off interest from the defence to finish a lighting counter-attack.
It was the 28-year-old striker’s first goal for Lyon since arriving on loan from Troyes in the summer.
Later on Saturday, Lens host second-placed Brest who will be looking to close the gap on Paris Saint-Germain ahead of the leaders’ meeting with Reims on Sunday.
