Montpellier (AFP)

Lyon, which could take the place of leader, fell for the first time this season and was overtaken by Montpellier on Tuesday at La Mosson, in a late match for the first day of Ligue 1.

Reduced to ten after the expulsion of its playmaker Houssem Aouar (45), OL faced the effectiveness of Hérault playmaker Téji Savanier, who scored twice (38, 59).

With four points in three days, Rudi Garcia's team retrograde in the middle of the table (11th) but above all seems to have lost the state of mind that had allowed him to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in August. in Lisbon.

Despite the tenure of midfielder Houssem Aouar, within a team reworked and planed by many departures (Marçal, Traoré, Tete, Rafael, Tatarusanu ...), OL have never really weighed against Montpellier , armed with a rare Mosson determination.

Three days after his performance against Nice (3-1), Michel Der Zakarian's team did it again for the second of their three games in a row at home, where he only fell twice a year. past (Rennes, Paris SG).

The MHSC climbs to 5th place, while waiting for the clash between Marseille and Saint-Etienne, and displays its ambitions a little more.

After a long sterile first period, Lyon lost its nerves, and some illusions facing a well-regrouped Montpellier team.

In the 38th minute, international side Léo Dubois fouled the area in the back of Téji Savanier.

The Montpellier playmaker converted the penalty from a "Panenka".

Five minutes later, midfielder and captain Aouar received a red card (43) following a foul on Arnaud Souquet.

Before being reduced to ten, Lyon exposed its inability to find spaces in the Hérault defense despite a large possession.

Only the Cameroonian striker Karl Toko Ekambi placed a recovery on the base of the post (1).

A quarter of an hour after the recovery (59), Savanier, brilliant in front of Nice, displayed his opportunism.

On a cross from Mihailo Ristic, he chained a control and a shot flush with the post.

And extinguishes the hope of OL despite the entry into play of Memphis Depay (55).

The Dutch center forward forced new Montpellier goalkeeper Jonas Omlin to two saves on a Marcelo header (68), then on a powerful free kick (72).

Eight minutes from the end, he reduced the gap on a penalty (82), following a foul on Mathis Cherki of veteran Hilton, excluded in turn.

An insufficient goal.

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