Lyon thrash poor Nice

Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Lyon dished out a 4-0 opening day thrashing of Nice.

Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Lyon enjoyed the biggest winning scoreline of the first day of the Ligue 1 season with a 4-0 thrashing of Nice. Lacazette opened the scoring after just 12 minutes but Remi Garde's side raced away with the match in the second half. Clement Grenier added a second eight minutes after the break and Lacazette got his brace after 67 minutes with Yoann Gourcuff adding a stunning free-kick in injury time. Victory means Lyon head the embryonic standings in contrast to their opponents today who prop up the table and have yet to earn a point. However, it was Nice who had the first opening with Eric Bautheac dispossessing Miguel Lopes only for the defender to block his shot. The hosts then took the lead with Lacazette released by a Grenier through-ball, controlling and finishing with goalkeeper David Ospina powerless to prevent the goal. Nice responded, though, and Mahame Traore had a close-range header blocked by Anthony Lopes before the Lyon keeper was called upon to get down to make a tidy save from Christian Bruls. Lyon then doubled their lead eight minutes after the restart, Gourcuff's cross from the left finding Grenier who powered home a header narrowly beneath the bar. The same combination almost made it three but Grenier shot just over the bar minutes later. It was all Lyon and the game was effectively over as a contest midway through the half when Lacazette dispossessed the Nice defence and dribbled round Ospina to slot in. There was still time though for a stunning goal from Gourcuff who curled a 25-yard free-kick from the left into the top corner.