Comfortable win for Lyon

Lyon made it three Ligue 1 wins in a row for the first time this season with a comfortable 3-0 defeat of 10-man Evian.

Lyon made it three Ligue 1 wins in a row for the first time this season with a comfortable 3-0 defeat of 10-man Evian at the Stade Gerland. Bafetimbi Gomis scored his eighth goal of the season to set the hosts on their way before Alexandre Lacazette effectively wrapped up all three points with goals either side of the break to move the former champions to fifth - their highest league position since September. A run of six winless games for the visitors is doing nothing for their hopes of survival and leaves Pascal Dupraz's team just three points above Valenciennes who occupy the final relegation spot in 18th. Despite their poor run of recent form it was Evian who went closest early on when Aldo Angoula beat the offside trap but fired weakly at Anthony Lopes. However, the form book showed as the 20-minute mark approached when a Yoann Gourcuff corner caused panic in the Evian penalty area before Gomis took control to fire into the bottom corner beyond Bertrand Laquait. Clement Grenier went close to doubling the score when his awkward free-kick from distance almost caught out Laquait but the visitors' shot-stopper got enough behind the ball to block. As half-time approached, Evian's afternoon went from bad to worse when John Mensah was booked for a challenge on Gomis before referee Tony Chapron showed him a straight red for protestation. Just moments later the game was all but wrapped up for Remi Garde's team when Kevin Berigaud gifted possession to Lacazette before the France Under-21 international chipped Laquait to inflict yet more misery on the visitors. Evian threatened after the break but Nicolas Benezet saw his powerful effort pushed away by Lopes after Samuel Umtiti hesitated to let him free. Lyon thought they had a third after 65 minutes when Arnold Mvuemba netted, only for the linesman's flag to go up. But Les Gones did not have to wait much longer before increasing their advantage. With Evian pushing to try and get back in the game, the hosts countered and Jimmy Briand easily beat his man before crossing for Lacazette who had the easiest of finishes for his second of the game.