Paris fall at Lyon

Not helped by the turns in events, Paris were beaten 2-1 at Lyon on Sunday.

THE MATCH: PARIS BEATEN BY A WHISKER

*With three of the league's top five goalscorers on the pitch (Cavani, Fekir, Mariano), it felt like a European evening. There was everything: technique and determination. Just 95 seconds in, the clouds gathered when Nabil Fekir caught out Alphonse Areola with a free-kick from 35 metres *(0-1, 2'). It was the fastest goal Paris had conceded since 2007

Paris quickly bounced back. Cavani struck one from 45 metres (8') while Jérémy Morel's miscued header forced Anthony Lopes into a save (18'). As Lyon dropped back into their own final third, Paris pressed with 70% possession. There was concern after Kylian Mbappé and Lopes collided heavily. The France international striker was stretchered off, but the initial news is good regarding his condition. Still, it was a blow Paris didn't recover from till added time at the end of the first half when Adrien Rabiot released Dani Alves and his cross was finished by Layvin Kurzawa, who sent a volley crashing into the net just under the crossbar (1-1, 45+3'). After the break, Marco Verratti (51') and Kurzawa (56') sought to put Paris in front, but their ambitions were dealt a major blow with the dismissal of Dani Alves for dissent (57'). 

Despite having a man less, Paris stood firm, though it still took Areola stops from Mariano (63') and Maxwel Cornet (85') to keep them on level terms. Even without Neymar Jr and Mbappé, they looked to have claimed a point until Memphis Depay sent a rocket of a shot past Areola with the final whistle in sight (2-1, 90+4').

THE IMAGE: UNLUCKY PARIS
It was an evening when nothing went right. Paris looked to have a point right up to 94 minutes. Thanks to the battling qualities of Rabiot and Giovani Lo Celso, Paris held out. But with Mbappé's early departure (not punished by a penalty award) and some harsh decisions (12 Paris fouls, four cards), it became a night to forget.

THE LESSONS
On hostile ground (Lyon had lost one of their last 13 L1 home games), Paris suffered their second defeat of the league season and their first of 2018. Lyon's win means they go back into second, eight points behind leaders Paris. Now Paris have two home games in three days, against Guingamp and Montpellier, with which to bounce back.