Montpellier made the trip to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais hoping that the new year would bring an upturn in fortunes. And they would have been encouraged by their positive start, with Jordan Ferri thumping a right-foot strike against the woodwork to deliver a warning shot to the Champions League-chasing hosts.
Indeed, Montpellier continued to offer the greater attacking threat for a while, until Lyon finally went close through Ernest Nuamah, who curled the ball agonisingly wide of the far post, as the hosts drew a blank in the opening half of a Ligue 1 game for the first time since November 1.
Lyon were then given a major scare in the opening stages of the second period, when Ferri guided the ball into the bottom corner from Issiaga Sylla’s neat cutback. The 32-year-old opted against celebrating his former club, which ultimately proved to be a wise decision as the effort was subsequently chalked off for an offside in the build-up.
Les Gones were given another reprieve when Khalil Fayad spurned a gilt-edged opportunity, blazing the ball harmlessly over the bar with just the goalkeeper to beat.
Mistakes such as those perhaps demonstrated why Montpellier are the joint third-lowest scorers in the top flight. They were ultimately made to rue their missed chances when Lyon snatched all three points in stoppage time, courtesy of a helping hand from the visitors.
The unfortunate Fayad inadvertently diverted the ball into his own net in a bid to deal with the danger from a goalmouth scramble, practically summing up Montpellier’s disastrous campaign to date. This last-gasp defeat leaves them six points adrift of safety, while Lyon climb up to fifth and level with fourth-placed Lille.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Lucas Perri (Lyon)