By D. Crossan
Moussa Dembélé and Memphis Depay scored as Olympique Lyonnais beat Nîmes 2-0 to climb to provisional third in the table.
Olympique Lyonnais 2-0 Nîmes Olympique 
THE MATCH
Bruno Genesio will be pleased with the three points ahead of taking on Hoffenheim in the Champions League on Tuesday, coming as this did off the back of the 5-0 humbling at Paris Saint-Germain in Week 9 and in the midst of an OL injury crisis.
Dembélé (3′) had the first shot in anger but fired into the the stand from the edge of the box after good work from Ferland Mendy, filling in at right-back with OL’s three senior specialists missing through injury. Nîmes goalkeeper Paul Bernadoni did well to tip over a Houssem Aouar shot (9′) and then Depay, at full stretch, was close to finding the corner (10′).
OL made the breakthrough (24′) when Dembélé raced onto a Marcelo ball, outpacing Anthony Briançon before finishing with a subtle strike under Bernadoni. Nîmes had key midfielder Téji Savanier back from a five-match suspension and he struck the bar from 20 metres, the ball deflecting off Marcelo on its way to hitting the woodwork.
Les Crocodiles were still very much in it and Sada Thioub (50′) forced a save from Anthony Lopes. Depay (54′) wasted a great chance to make the game all but safe as he went for a chipped finish when clean through and Bernardoni made a comfortable catch. At the other end, Clément Depres was very close to equalising.
Rachid Alioui nearly made an instant impact off the bench (69′) as his skilful curling shot went just wide with Lopes beaten. Dembélé nearly scored a second (70′) after being played in by a gem of a Depay pass but dragged his shot wide of the post. Théo Valls then tested Lopes again (72′) as Nîmes searched to end a run of three consecutive games without scoring.
Martin Terrier (79′) curled a shot wide after an electric Lyon break. Nîmes sub Umut Bozok could have equalised with a header (83′) as OL continued to concede chances. The outstanding Savanier (87′) then powered one marginally wide. Depay (90′) then ended a goal drought stretching back to Week 1, showing quick feet to finish left-footed after a defensive mix-up.
THE PLAYER: Moussa Dembélé
The former Celtic forward has been involved in four of OL’s last six Ligue 1 Conforama goals, scoring three of them. The onus was on Dembélé with Nabil Fekir and Maxwel Cornet unfit to play, and Bertrand Traoré only available as a substitute following his late return from international duty with Burkina Faso.
THE STAT: 8
Nîmes have failed to win any of their last eight league games (four draws, four defeats) after starting the season with back-to-back wins.
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