The China Mail - Tete double helps Lyon ease past Troyes

Tete's efforts came in the second-half after goals from ex-Arsenal attacker Alexandre Lacazette and defender Nicolas Tagliafico as they go behind Paris Saint-Germain on points difference.

Florian Tardieu converted a penalty for Troyes, who remain bottom of the table and are winless so far this term.

Peter Bosz' home side played their first game in a fortnight after last weekend's match at Lorient was postponed due to an unplayable surface in Brittany.

Bruno Irles' Troyes were looking for their maiden win of the season after conceding six goals in their first two fixtures.

Lacazette opened the scoring with his quickest goal for Lyon after two minutes and nine seconds.

Troyes captain and France World Cup winner Adil Rami made a hash of a pass back to his goalkeeper and Lacazette cooly side-footed home.

The visitors were then handed a chance to equalise as Lyon left-back Tagliafico fouled Thierno Balde in the box.

Midfielder Tardieu then stepped to make it 1-1 with 38 minutes on the clock, his 12th spot kick in the league since joining Troyes in 2019.

Three mintes later Lacazette had a chance to restore his side's lead but he fired his shot straight at goalkeeper Gauthier Gallon and the teams were all-square at the break.

- Two in two -

After the interval Bosz' hosts retook the lead thanks to two goals in as many minutes.

Tagliafico made up for his earlier error after 47 minutes and then Tete made it 3-1 from a rebound shortly after.

Tete, who joined Lyon from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk earlier this year, claimed his second of the game and secured all three points firing hom from outside the box with quarter of an hour remaining.

With four minutes left Lacazette was denied a second as Gallon blocked the attacker's effort as Bosz's side clinched second straight win of the season.

On Saturday, Marseille host Nantes in the pick of the ties as former Inter Milan midfielder Alexis Sanchez could make his home debut for the 1993 Champions League winners.

The pick of Sunday's ties sees Christophe Galtier take Paris Saint-Germain back to his former club, Lille in a meeting of Ligue 1's two previous winners.

Kylian Mbappe will be the focus of attention in northern France after having a penalty saved and failing to persuade Neymar to give him the ball when PSG were awarded another spot kick in last weekend's win over Montpellier.

B.Carter--ThChM