Europe’s most in-form team right now, Lyon, were hoping to extend their incredible run after winning in the Coupe de France midweek.
Yet, it was relegation-threatened Nantes who had the brighter start and they came close to netting the opener seven minutes into the contest.
Mohamed Kaba’s marauding run culminated with a quick step-over on the edge of the box before his shot clipped the left post and went wide.
The away side began to grow into the contest and create chances. First, Afonso Moreira went close after he was slipped in down the left, but his low shot was saved by the feet of former Lyon stopper Anthony Lopes.
Les Gones’ pressure continued to intensify, and the visitors duly broke the deadlock on ‘25 when, after the hosts’ defence failed to clear a corner, Moreira’s shot was diverted in by Pavel Sulc for his 10th league goal of the season.
Moreira was proving too hot for Nantes to handle, as he broke forward a minute later and fed Endrick with a sumptuous backheel, but the Brazilian was brilliantly denied by Lopes. Moreira had one last chance before half-time, but after creating space in the box, his low drive hit the side netting.
Nantes started the second half brightly and created early chances, but Youssef El-Arabi was twice unable to restore parity, even heading against the post.
Lyon were on the back foot, and their task to hold onto their lead was made even more difficult on the hour mark when Endrick was sent off for a second bookable offence after he kicked out at Dehmaine Tabibou.
Paulo Fonseca was incensed at the decision, and following a VAR review, Mathieu Vernice rescinded the yellow and instead gave the Real Madrid loanee a straight red card.
Tempers began to flare with tackles flying in following Endrick’s dismissal, but once play settled, Lyon battled hard to defend their lead and see out the remaining half-hour.
A combination of excellent defending and game management helped Fonseca’s men to grind out the victory in the end, though It wasn’t without drama, as Bahereba Guirassy had a deflected shot strike the woodwork in stoppage time.
The visitors survived that scare to hold on for a sixth successive victory in Ligue 1 for the first time since May 2018. Nantes meanwhile, sit in the relegation play-off place and just a point above the bottom-two.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Afonso Moreira (Lyon)
