Jason Denayer proved to be the difference between the two sides in the Derby du Rhône as Olympique Lyonnais ran out 1-0 winners over AS Saint-Etienne at the Groupama Stadium on Friday.
Olympique Lyonnais 1-0 AS Saint-Etienne 
THE MATCH
Lyon had the first chance of the game, with Marcelo heading Memphis Depay’s free-kick towards the Saint-Etienne goal only to see Stéphane Ruffier snuffle the chance (14′), but from there it was the visitors who dominated in the first half. Rémy Cabella swept the ball into the OL box for Loïs Diony, but his textbook striker’s header was turned around the post for a corner by Ruffier’s opposite number, Anthony Lopes (22′). Playing with three at the back but with Jérémy Morel suspended, Lyon looked uncomfortable at the back, with ASSE picking on Marçal – normally a left wing-back – in particular. The hosts were lucky to have Lopes guarding their goal, though, and the next time his defence was breached, Mathieu Debuchy finding space at the back post, he closed down his angles well to stop the danger (30′). Home fans’ hearts were in mouths, then, when the Portugal shot-stopper stayed down after a clash with Kévin Monnet-Paquet (44′).
Denayer finds the winner
Lopes re-emerged for the second half, though, but Nabil Fekir was replaced by Maxwel Cornet after a groin strain. Shorn of their captain but evidently with coach Bruno Génésio’s words ringing in their ears, Lyon upped their tempo in the second half. Moussa Dembélé flashed a shot over the bar (51′) before Jason Denayer broke the deadlock, latching onto another Memphis cross to head the ball past a helpless Ruffier (62′). The hosts were reduced to ten men with 20 minutes left to play following Rafael’s reckless challenge on Yann M’Vila (70′), with Génésio duly bringing on Lucas Tousart for Dembélé to shore things up (74′). ASSE had more possession ion the final straight, but Romain Hamouma’s cross finding Marcelo (79′) was indicative of their frustration and Lyon were able to hold onto the 1-0 win that sends them a provisional second.
THE PLAYER: Anthony Lopes
This victory would have been impossible if not for Lopes. The 28-year-old has been irrepressible this season, and would have more than the now four clean sheets to his name had the defence in front of him been more settled. How he still has only seven caps for Portugal, only Fernando Santos can know.
THE STAT: 14
Lyon are now undefeated in 14 of their last 15 home games in Ligue 1 Conforama. Apart from the narrow 1-0 loss to OGC Nice in Week 4, Les Gones have otherwise not tasted defeat at their Groupama Stadium since February, when Stade Rennais FC beat them 2-0.
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