Depay helps Lyon maintain Champions League assault

Paris (France) (AFP) – Memphis Depay grabbed a goal and an assist as Lyon secured a fifth straight Ligue 1 win by beating Amiens 3-0 on Saturday to continue their push for a place in next season’s Champions League.

Dutch international Depay, who had a hand in all five goals against Metz last weekend, set up Mariano Diaz for the opening goal against Amiens on 30 minutes.

The former Manchester United player gathered a pass from Bertrand Traore and rolled the ball across to Mariano, who shifted back onto his right foot before finishing inside the near post for his 18th league goal of the season. 

Depay nearly doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time when Amiens goalkeeper Regis Gurtner made a sharp save at his near post to keep out the forward’s header.

Substitute Stiven Mendoza came closest to an equaliser for Amiens midway through the second half when his downward header was smothered on the line by Anthony Lopes.

Lyon captain Nabil Fekir returned after seven weeks out through injury for the final 15 minutes as the hosts eventually wrapped up the three points.

Gurtner and Prince-Desir Gouano combined to frustrate Traore and then Depay in a matter of seconds, but the latter gave Lyon room to breathe when he volleyed in a cross from the Burkina Faso striker on 83 minutes.

Traore himself got on the scoresheet two minutes later, following up after Fekir’s effort was blocked to seal a victory that moved Lyon three points clear of fourth-placed Marseille.

Rudi Garcia’s Marseille, who advanced to the semi-finals of the Europa League on Thursday with a thrilling 5-3 aggregate defeat of RB Leipzig, are back in domestic action away to Troyes on Sunday. 

Paris Saint-Germain will reclaim the French title if they beat reigning champions Monaco at the Parc des Princes in Sunday’s late game.