Lyon maintain CL push

Substitute Bafetimbi Gomis bagged a second-half brace as Lyon comfortably beat Nancy 3-0.

Substitute Bafetimbi Gomis bagged a second-half brace as Lyon maintained their push for a Champions League berth next season with a 3-0 victory at struggling Nancy. Gomis edged Remi Garde's men in front just after half-time - where he was introduced following a lifeless opening 45 minutes - and added the gloss to the scoreline two minutes from time after Yoann Gourcuff bagged Lyon's second in the 79th minute. It was third-placed Lyon's third win in four matches and one which kept them three points clear of their Champions League rivals, while Nancy remain just one point above the drop zone. It was the hosts who started brightly, however, with Benjamin Moukandjo dispossessing Clement Grenier before striding through to the edge of Lyon's box and firing at goal with goalkeeper Anthony Lopes making a fine save. They were also managing to stifle Le Gones in the opening 45 minutes, with Arnold Mvuemba and Lisandro Lopez firing over the bar from distance. Garde brought on Gomis from the bench in place of Lopez for the start of the second half and the change reaped instant rewards. The striker had already made his presence felt a minute after his introduction by teeing up Yassine Benzia, who forced a decent save out of Nancy custodian Damien Gregorini, before putting Lyon ahead in the 48th minute. Captain Maxime Gonalons picked out Gomis, who dribbled past Jordan Loties and fired into the net. The visitors were nearly two ahead almost immediately after when Benzia raced through to collect Gonalons' through ball and although the promising 18-year-old went round Gregorini, he was denied by on the line by Vincent Muratori's clearance. There was also a goal-line clearance at the other end, with Muratori finding Djamel Bakar, whose goalbound strike was fabulously denied by Samuel Umtiti. The defender came to Lyon's rescue again, this time denying Sebastien Puygrenier as Nancy desperately pressed for an equaliser. Just as it looked like they may finally break through, Lyon extended their lead 11 minutes from time. After some good work on the right flank from Gueida Fofana, Gourcuff collected the ball and his powerful first-time shot left Gregorini with no chance. It was to get worse for the hosts as the goalscorer turned provider, Gourcuff's perfectly weighted through ball to Gomis allowed the striker to superbly lob Gregorini, who had committed himself too early.