Nancy 0 - 3 Lyonnais: Alexandre Lacazette nets hat-trick as Lyon brush aside Nancy in season opener

Posted Sunday, August 14, 2016 by PA

Alexandre Lacazette began the season with a bang as his hat-trick helped fire Lyon to a 3-0 win against newly-promoted Nancy.

Lacazette, who finished with 23 goals in all competitions last season and 31 the campaign before, struck twice in the first half before completing his treble in stoppage time at the end of the game.

Nancy, looking to get their top-flight campaign off on the right foot, pressed early on with Anthony Koura and Modou Diagne going close, the latter's header forcing a smart save from Anthony Lopes.

Lacazette, who has been heavily linked with Arsenal this summer, had his first opportunity for the visitors on the half-hour mark but Nancy goalkeeper Guy Ndy Assembe stood up to the striker's bending free-kick with a superb one-handed stop.

Lacazette did not have to wait much longer to open the scoring, though, as when Sergi Darder's saved effort fell his way the 25-year-old was quick to hammer home the loose ball.

The France international then doubled his and Lyon's tally for the afternoon just before the break, last season's top scorer confidently firing home following Lopes' lengthy clearance.

Nancy threw on Tobias Badila and Christophe Mandanne after the interval but, aside from the latter's weak effort from a corner just before the hour mark, the changes failed to have the desired impact.

As the hosts seemingly ran out of ideas it was Lyon who forged the best chance in the closing stages when Mathieu Valbuena and Gnarly Cornet combined to tee up Clement Grenier, but his stinging effort was well saved by Assembe.

But there was still time for Lacazette to crown a stunning start to the season as his finished Jordan Ferri's cutback in added time to seal an convincing Lyon win.