Lyon played hosts to Toulouse at the Stade de Gerland in Ligue 1 on Thursday night with both sides neck and neck in the table.
Les Gones were looking to keep pace with the European chasers following their heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, while Toulouse went into the game looking to win at Lyon for the first time since 1966.
While they failed to end that record, Toulouse did manage to put to bed a run of six straight defeats in the fixture thanks to a late equaliser.
Read how the match unfolded in our live commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Ligue 1 football where Lyon host Toulouse at Stade de Gerland.
I'm expecting a highly entertaining 90 minutes of football here tonight. Both sides have a lot to play for and are desperate to keep pace with the fellow European hopefuls. Lyon and Toulouse have been through their respective rough patches, but the pair will do all they can to ride a wave of momentum into 2014.
They go into this clash of the back of hugely contrasting results. Lyon were outclassed by champions Paris Saint-Germain in their last game where they were smashed 4-0 at Parc des Princes, while Toulouse hammered bottom-of-the-table Sochaux 5-1 at Stadium Municipal.
It's not just their most recent results that have seen Lyon and Toulouse achieve the polar opposites. That defeat for tonight's host saw them flop having taken seven points from a possible nine during a pretty good November, while Toulouse's big win was their only victory last month, and their first since mid-October.
All the stats for this match point towards it being an even contest. Lyon have been highly disappointing at the Stade de Gerland in 2013; winning just six of 17 games here. However, they've not tasted defeat on home soil to Toulouse May 1966, and have won the last six meetings between the two sides here!
So, there's my point for this being a cracking contest. Anyway, let's get the team news.
We'll start with the hosts: Lyon.
LYON XI: Vercoutre, Bedimo, Bisevac, Lopes, Umtiti, Fofana, Gonalons, Grenier, Malbranque, Gomis, Lacazette
Remi Garde has made two changes to the Lyon team that were outclassed by PSG in their last outing.
Bakary Kone and Yoann Gourcuff both drop to the bench, while Steed Malbranque and Bafetimbi Gomis come in, with the latter recovering from injury.
Lyon are still without Mouhamadou Dabo and Jimmy Briand, and are likely to be missing them until after Christmas.
Let's take a look at Garde's options from the bench.
LYON BENCH: Gorgelin, Kone, Danic, Ferri, Gourcuff, Mvuemba, Benzia
So that's the Lyon lineup, let's see what Toulouse have to offer.
TOULOUSE XI: Ahamada, Abdennour, Ninkov, Spajic, Sylla, Zebina, Trejo, Aguilar, Ben Yedder, Braithwaite, Chantome
Alain Casanova has also opted for two alterations to his side following their annihilation of Sochaux at the weekend.
Serge Aurier is out through a suspension, but they do welcome back Oscar Trejo from a ban. Elsewhere, Pavle Ninkov comes into the team, while Pantxi Sirieix drops to the bench.
This is what Toulouse have available on their bench.
TOULOUSE BENCH: Blondel, Moubandje, Yago, Akpa-Akpro, Didot, Sirieix, Ben Basat
This match marks Lyon goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre's third game of the season having missed most of it through injury. He comes up against an in-form Toulouse attack. Wissam Ben Yedder scored a hattrick for Toulouse last time out, while 22-year-old striker Martin Braithwaite has four goals to his name.
This should be a thrilling encounter.
The two teams are out at Stade de Gerland. Lyon are in their all-white first kit with blue and red trim, while Toulouse are wearing an all-red away strip.
So we're ready to go, the winner takes a spot in the top 10 of Ligue 1 tonight.
KICK OFF! Toulouse, playing from right to left, get the match underway.
No chances yet in the early stages here. Lyon have had most of the ball so far.
Lyon are really under threat when it comes to not finishing in the top three this season, which would be only the second time it has happened in 16 years. They were top of the table this time last season, but currently sit 13th; 16 points adrift of third-placed AS Monaco, albeit with a game in hand.
First cross of the night from Lyon right-back Miguel Lopes, and it floats behind for a goal kick.
The ball goes straight down the other end where Braithwaite tries to run onto a ball over the top, but Vercoutre is quickly off his line to grab the ball.
CHANCE! First shot on goal of the game and it falls to Lyon. The 22-year-old, who has six goals this season, picks up the ball 25 yards from goal and hits a low shot just wide of the far post.
CLOSE! Another chance for Lyon, this time for Clement Grenier. He picks up the ball on the right before a turn of pace helps him beat his marker inside. He then fires a shot towards the near post, but it bends away and into the side-netting.
Lyon are on top at the moment. Toulouse's back three is struggling to cope so far.
Nearly a chance for Toulouse. Ben Yedder lofts a cross into the box which Vercoutre comes for and misses. Lyon temporarily panic, but Toulouse cannot take advantage as the chance dies.
Good work from Ninkov down the right flank for Toulouse. He plays a one-two with Braithwaite, but the return pass is just too overhit and Ninkov can't catch it.
No opportunities in the last few minutes, but Bafetimbi Gomis is proving a handful for Toulouse. Rumours have linked him with a January move to West Ham United as of late, with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
Lyon build and the shot comes in at the second time of asking by Fofana, but it's straight down the throat of Ali Ahamada.
Toulouse are starting to get back into this one having weathered a bit of a Lyon attacking storm. It's pretty even out there at the moment.
Umtiti brings down Ben Yedder slight to the left of centre about 25 yards from goal. Decent free kick chance for Toulouse here.
Now that was awful. Toulouse try something that they've cleared been working on in training, but clearly not enough with how it panned out. They pretty much pass it into the wall.
GOAL! Lyon 1-0 Toulouse (Alexandre Lacazette)
There's the opener, and it's a lovely goal from Lacazette. Lyon hover on the edge of the box but cannot seem to work a shooting chance, that's until Lacazette picks up the ball, wriggles away from his marker, before firing a low shot from outside the box into the bottom corner at the near post. His seventh of the season, and Lyon lead.
Lyon are buzzing following that goal, and are looking to get two in quick succession. Toulouse hold out from the corner though.
Jonathan Zebina catches Lacazette with an elbow after going in for an aerial challenge, but he doesn't receive a card and apologises to the Lyon scorer.
Toulouse coming back into a bit now, but are yet to really test Vercoutre.
Gomis tries to chip the keeper from near enough on the halfway line. The ball ends up closer to the touchline.
Toulouse nearly find an equaliser from a free kick. It's lofted into the far post beautifully and brilliantly headed back across by Aguilar, but nobody can get on the end of it at the other post and Lyon can scramble it away.
Bisevac lands awkwardly on his shoulder and is receiving treatment. He looks to be in some pain.
Bakary Kone, who was dropped from the starting to lineup tonight following his display at the weekend, is warming up. Not sure if he is going to be needed though.
Into the closing stages of the half, and Lyon are threatening to score a second.
Despite their being a goal in this half, on the whole, the final ball into the box has been poor from both sides.
We will have one minute of added time.
HALF TIME: Lyon 1-0 Toulouse
So Lyon are on course to get back to winning ways thanks to that Lacazette goal, but there isn't really too much to report other than that.
Let's take a look at the statistics from the first half.
Match statistics:
Lyon:
Shots 6
On target 2
Possession 56%
Corners 2
Fouls 9
Toulouse:
Shots 1
On target 0
Possession 44%
Corners 0
Fouls 6
Toulouse are back out onto the pitch at the Stade de Gerland, and we're just waiting on the home side.
And here are Lyon. Second half imminent.
KICK OFF! Lyon, playing to the left, get the second half up and running.
CLOSE! Nearly a bizarre second goal for Lyon as Miguel Lopes' cross troubles Ahamada, but bends just wide.
YELLOW CARD Miguel Lopes goes into the book after a heavy body check on Sylla.
Even start to the second half. No real chances as of yet.
And as I say that, Lyon have an opportunity to go 2-0 up. They forward and into the penalty area where the ball ends up at the feet of Lacazette. He hits a low strike, but Ahamada can hold onto it when diving down to his right.
He should have probably done better with the shot there, but Lacazette just couldn't get the ball out of his feet.
Grenier has a go at goal from the free kick, but it was never going to trouble Ahamada.
Not a lot to report from the past few minutes. This second half has started a bit like the first.
Toulouse put in a corner from the right which flies towards Spajic. He rises above Gomis on the edge of the box, but it comes off the side of his head and goes well wide.
TOULOUSE CHANGE First switch of the match made by Casanova as Ninkov is replaced by Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro.
YELLOW CARD Zebina enters the referee's notebook for bringing down Gomis as Lyon were on the counter.
LYON CHANGE Garde makes his first tinker of the match as Grenier goes off, and Gourcuff comes on.
Lacazette has been wonderful to watch for Lyon tonight. His touch has been superb and he always looks to try to beat his man.
CHANCE! Lyon should have doubled their lead here. Lovely burst of pace from Lacazette to peel away from his marker on the halfway line as the hosts go on the counter-attack. A couple of passes later, the ball ends up at the feet of Malbranque on the edge on the box. He should pass it one more time, but takes a shot on that easily clears the crossbar.
TOULOUSE CHANGE Ben Yedder is brought off, with Eden Ben Basat the man to replace him.
LYON CHANGE Jordan Ferri comes on for Malbranque.
SAVE! Very nearly an awesome equaliser from Ben Basat. He's only just comes on, but he weaves his way in from the right and breezes past three or four challenges before firing a low shot, but it's straight at the keeper. Disappointing end to an incredible run.
Apart from that Ben Basat chance, it's been very easy at the back for Lyon. Toulouse's final ball has been poor nine times out of 10, and they've not really made Vercoutre do anything in the Lyon goal.
SAVE! Ahamada keeps Toulouse in it. Gomis is slid in by Gonalons on the right of the box and manages to keep it in at the byline. He pulls the ball back to Fofana on the edge of the box, who takes a touch before forcing a fine low stop from Ahamada.
CLOSE! The resulting corner is dinked into the near post, and is vollied just wide by Gonalons.
TOULOUSE CHANGE Final alteration for the visitors as Didot replaces Trejo.
GOAL! Lyon 1-1 Toulouse (Martin Braithwaite)
Toulouse are level, but Lyon's failure to finish this game off may have just cost them. The hosts fail to clear a ball into the box after Abdennour's shot caused panic among the defence, and Braithwaite can superbly finish the loose ball into the top corner. Game on in the final 10 minutes.
LYON CHANGE Lacazette, who has been one of the bright sparks tonight, is replaced by Benzia.
YELLOW CARD Spajic goes into the book for Toulouse. Free kick for Lyon on the left which Gourcuff will look to loft into the box.
Gourcuff plays it into the box, but Chantome with a strong header puts it behind.
We will have three minutes of added time. Can either side snatch a winner?
YELLOW CARD Bisevac catches Braithwaite from behind and goes into the book.
Gomis is bundled over in the box by Abdennour, but nothing is given.
FULL TIME: Lyon 1-1 Toulouse
So Lyon are made to pay for not taking their chances in the second half, and Toulouse snatch a point. Martin Braithwaite cancelled out Alexandre Lacazette's first-half opener.
These two teams stay side by side in Ligue 1.
Let's take a look at the full-time stats.
Match statistics:
Lyon:
Shots 15
On target 4
Possession 50%
Corners 7
Fouls 15
Toulouse:
Shots 7
On target 3
Possession 50%
Corners 2
Fouls 15
Well that's it from me tonight, but I'll be back tomorrow evening to bring you more Ligue 1 action.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
