Live Commentary: Valenciennes 0-2 Lyon - as it happened

Lyon went into tonight's clash with Valenciennes knowing that a positive result in Northern France would send them to the top of Ligue 1.

Valenciennes had only lost once at home all season before the match but fell behind after eight minutes when Gueida Fofana drove home from distance.

Remi Garde's side raced into a two-goal lead, which proved to be enough soon after when Bafetimbi Gomis netted from close range.

Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary of a convincing Lyon victory below:

60 minMalbranque sends in another dangerous free kick but full-back Reveillere is penalised for a push and another chance for Lyon to kill off the match breaks down.

56 minCHANCE! Umitti catches Dosevvi late and completely misses the ball to hand Valenciennes a dangerous free kick. Le Tallec reacts quickest to the cross and curls an effort towards goal that forces a fine sprawling save from Vercoutre at his near post.

53 minA pitch also used for rugby union is beginning to cut up and have an adverse effect on the match. If Lyon do decide to go long Gomis is the perfect target man and has worried the home defence all night.

50 minYELLOW CARD! Valenciennes captain Mater robs Ghezzal of possession and advances up the pitch but Lyon once again win the ball back and break quickly with a long forward pass. Lacazette finds space out wide and is hacked down by Nguette, who is awarded the game's first yellow card for his late lunge.

48 minMalbranque's in-swinging corner finds Lacazette unmarked but his looping header floats over the far post. An early sight of goal for Lyon as play continues in a familiar pattern to the first 45 minutes.

46 minLyon get the second half underway and immediately claim possession deep into the final third to win their second corner of the match.

8.30pmLacazette and Fofana have shown coach Remi Garde might not be so bleak without Michel Bastos as persistent speculation links the winger with a move away from Lyon. The Brazilian has been left out tonight ahead of a proposed move to Schalke.

8.26pmIf Lyon top scorer Gomis had been more clinical the visitors could have wrapped this match up in the first 20 minutes. Valenciennes have scored just six in their last nine games and will need a miraculous turnaround to avoid their second home defeat of the season.

8.22pmThe referee takes mercy on the home side and decides not to add any additional time. Lyon made a storming start to the match and fully merit their two-goal advantage at the interval.

8.20pmHALF-TIME Valenciennes 0-2 Lyon

45 minDossevi drives down the right and wins the home side their fourth corner of the night but Lyon easily clear their lines and advance up the pitch.

43 minLe Tallec and Malbranque clash in central midfield but it's the former Liverpool man wins a keenly-contested tussle. He has time to pick out a pass but his lofted cross to Nguette finds the winger in an offside position.

41 minLyon are happy to sit deep and continue to threaten on the counter. Lacazette looks particularly dangerous on the left and once again uses his pace and power to drive down the right before being outnumbered by covering defenders.

38 minGomis barges Rose to the ground with his shoulder and is given a warning by the referee but manages to avoid a caution.

36 minDoessvi produces the home side's best moment of the match by some distance. The winger beat two players in a wide area before sending in a dangerous cross. Despite having time to judge his header Aboubakar was not able to hit the target.

32 minPENALTY APPEAL! Lyon have a strong penalty appeal turned down after Sankhare's poor touch in his own area appeared to send the ball onto his arm and away from Fofana's grasp. The referee is uninterested and waves away protests from the Lyon players.

30 minValenciennes are turning in comfortably their worst performance of the season to date. Gomis was not even due to start moments before kickoff but has taken full advantage of the late change to get his 12th of the season.

27 minGomis finally gets on the scoresheet and this time he could hardly miss. Fine build-up play from Fofana and Malbranque works an angle out wide for Lacazette. He beats the full-back before driving across goal for Gomis to stab home from close range. Simple but effective football from Remi Garde's side who are now two goals to the good.

26 minGOAL! Valenciennes 0-2 Lyon (Gomis)

22 minThe home crowd have a designated cheerleader trying to rally the troops on a megaphone but the home side are yet to respond. Lyon are dictating the pattern of play and look threatening every time they go forward.

18 minValenciennes are all at sea defensively and need three attempts to successfully clear a free kick from Rachid Ghezzal. Worrying times for the mid-table outfit looking to preserve their proud home record.

16 minLyon have stunned the home crowd and taken control of a tricky looking away match. Former Premier League mainstay Steed Malbranque is the latest player to try his luck for Garde's side, sending a drive from distance well wide of the target.

14 minCHANCE! Gomis drifts wide and again has the freedom of the Valenciennes penalty area but drills inches wide from a tight angle. Lyon will have wanted those last three chances to fall to their top scorer but he has failed to make their early dominance count.

12 minTWO SAVES! Gomis comes close to doubling Lyon's lead twice in under a minute. First the target man is given time to control and shoot at Penneteau who makes a forceful save. The visitors quickly recycle possession and find Gomes alone in the six-yard box but he can only flick straight into Penneteau's waiting arms. Two huge chances to put this game out of sight in the early stages.

10 minThe visitors go ahead through Gueida Fofana, who glides into the area unchallenged before sending a curling strike into the bottom corner. Lyon are set up to play on the counter and a devastating break has handed them an early advantage.

8 min GOAL! Valenciennes 0-1 Lyon (Fofana)

6 minValenciennes go straight up the other end and force Remy Vercoutre to make a fine save but Aboubakar will know he should have put the home side ahead. A flick on from Le Tallec finds the powerful striker in space in the penalty area but his weak shot is stopped smartly.

4 minCHANCE! The home side are pressing high up the pitch in a bid to take control but nearly get caught on the break by Lacazaette, who makes a late run to meet the ball before sending a curling effort off the outside of the post.

2 minValenciennes get us underway shooting from left to right. Lyon are in a changed blue strip and quickly win back possession in their own half. Bisaevic goes down under a heavy challenge in his first involvement of the night.

7.28pmBoth teams have just taken to the field at the Stade du Hainaut with David Guetta thumping in the background. The stadium looks around 80% full with the passionate home support creating a noisy welcome for their famous visitors.

7.26pmLisandro has been reportedly been injured in the warm up in a move which will leave Lyon with just six substitutes this evening. Another player linked with a move away, most notably Juventus, the Argentine has struggled for form and fitness this season.

7.22pmApologies for the slight delay but right up until the last minute Lyon's team was shrouded in mystery, with Lisandro Lopez named to start before being replaced by Bafetimbi Gomis. Make of that what you will. Schalke target Michel Bastos has only been named on the bench which is a decision that will add to growing speculation he will swap Lyon for the Champions League contenders.

7.20pmTEAM NEWS: VALENCIENNES: Pennetau, Mirin, Rose, Bong, Mater, Sankhare, Gomis, Aboubakar, Doessvi, Le Tallec, Nguette LYON: Vercoutre, RÃ©veillÃ¨re, Bisevac, Lovren, Umtiti, Gonalons, Fofana, Malbranque, Lacazette, Ghezzal, Gomis

7.14pmWith rumours of dissent rife at Lyon tonight's team news should make for interesting reading. Let's take a look at the starting XI's for both sides in a match due to begin in around 15 minutes.

7.13pmLyon have hit the headlines for the wrong reasons this week as the club's concerted effort to cut the wage bill shows no sign of slowing down. Michel Bastos, Lisandro Lopez and top scorer Bafetimbi Gomis have all been heavily linked with moves away from France in the last few weeks. OL coach Remi Garde has admitted that he cannot be sure which of his star players will still be available for selection when the January window closes.

7.09pmLyon know that they can move top of the table if they avoid defeat in Northern France but desperately need three points to keep pace in a congested title race. Valenciennes have built their solid mid-table position on a fine home record and will hope to keep that proud run going this evening.

7.06pmGood evening French football fans and thanks for joining us for the opening match of week 22 in Ligue 1. Tonight sees Lyon travel to Valenciennes desperate to secure an important victory in the context of the title race.

Live Commentary: Valenciennes 0-2 Lyon - as it happened

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