Fekir on target but Lyon held

 Montpellier Hérault SC  1 – 1  Olympique Lyonnais 

THE MATCH

Lyon were looking to cement their grip on a podium spot going into the winter break as they headed south for this meeting with fourth-placed Montpellier, with the visitors missing the injured Tanguy Ndombele.

Bruno Genesio’s side were seeking a third win in seven days in all competitions but their hosts were determined to get back on track in their first game since losing to LOSC two and a half weeks earlier.

The home side had the ball in the net midway through the first half, but Andy Delort’s effort was disallowed after the referee used the VAR, while Anthony Lopes made notable saves in the first half from Gaëtan Laborde and Florent Mollet.

Like Pavard

Having survived in the first half, OL went on to get the breakthrough midway through the second period thanks to their captain, Fekir collecting a Kenny Tete pass on the edge of the box before finishing beautifully – with the aid of a deflection – for his fourth Ligue 1 Conforama goal of the campaign (67′).

However, Montpellier showed spirit to come back and grab the equaliser with nine minutes remaining. The Lyon defence failed to clear their lines and they were punished by Rubén Águilar, who scored with a superb strike – reminiscent of Benjamin Pavard’s goal for France against Argentina at the World Cup – high into the top corner.

It was his first Ligue 1 Conforama goal and it allowed Montpellier to get back on track. Nevertheless, they have won just once in five outings and end 2018 two points behind third-placed Lyon, albeit with a game in hand.

THE PLAYER: Nabil Fekir

A second goal in as many Ligue 1 Conforama games for Fekir on the back of his vital strike against Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Champions League. The World Cup winner loves playing against Montpellier too – he has scored seven in six against them.

THE STAT: 47

It took Rubén Águilar 47 appearances to get his first Ligue 1 Conforama goal – and what a goal it was too.

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