Ligue 1: Lacazette Hat-Trick Powers Lyon to 4-1 Thrashing of Nice

Lacazette's hat-trick propelled Lyon to a dominant 4-1 win over Nice in Ligue 1, extending their unbeaten run to eight games.

Alexandre Lacazette achieved a remarkable milestone, scoring his 150th Ligue 1 goal, as he netted a hat-trick to propel Olympique Lyonnais to a resounding 4-1 victory over Nice at the Groupama Stadium. This triumph extended Lyon's unbeaten run in the league to eight games, solidifying their position in the table.

The match got off to a blistering start, with Lacazette firing Lyon into the lead after just four minutes. The Lyon captain showcased his predatory instincts, sliding home Clinton Mata's inviting cross with an outstretched right foot to send the home crowd into raptures.

Nice thought they had equalized just three minutes after Lacazette's opener, as Evann Guessand converted Mohamed-Ali Cho's pass. However, the Ivorian's goal was disallowed following a pitchside video review. Referee Bastien Dechepy deemed that Pablo Rosario had committed a foul on Nicolás Tagliafico in the build-up, thus invalidating the goal.

The visitors eventually found their equalizer in the 22nd minute, courtesy of a goal that bore a striking resemblance to Lacazette's opener. Mohamed-Ali Cho provided the assist, and Sofiane Diop applied a sliding finish at the far post to level the scores. The frenetic pace of the match showed no signs of abating, as Lacazette's header from Fofana's cross was spectacularly saved by Marcin Bułka. Undeterred, Lacazette struck again to reach a milestone 150 Ligue 1 goals, showcasing his clinical finishing with a first-time effort from Said Benrahma's delivery.

Lyon continued to press their advantage, and Jordan Veretout scored his first goal for the club with a sublime right-footed volley from the edge of the box. This strike extended Lyon's lead before halftime, leaving OGC Nice with a significant deficit to overcome in the second half.

Nice thought they had been handed a potential lifeline at the start of the second half when the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened, prompting referee Bastien Dechepy to review a potential penalty incident involving Duje Caleta-Car and Evann Guessand in the box. However, to the visible dismay of Nice manager Franck Haise, no penalty was awarded, leaving the visitors still trailing by two goals.

Tanguy Ndombele came perilously close to reducing the deficit when he made a sliding attempt to meet a cross from the left flank. Unfortunately for Nice, Ndombele mistimed his finish, and Nicolas Tagliafico was on hand to clear the danger. Lyon soon capitalized on Nice's misfortune, as Alexandre Lacazette completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot. VAR played a crucial role once again, as Dechepy consulted the pitchside monitor and determined that Yaël Nandjou had handled the ball inside the box. Lacazette stepped up to take the penalty, sending Marcin Bułka the wrong way to effectively seal the victory for Lyon.

It was a triumphant evening for Lyon, spearheaded by the exceptional Alexandre Lacazette. The French striker's hat-trick not only propelled his team to a resounding 4-1 victory but also marked a significant personal milestone. Lacazette's tally of 150 Ligue 1 goals places him among the top scorers in the 21st century, with only Wissam Ben Yedder (161) and Kylian Mbappe (191) having scored more.

The win elevates Lyon to fifth place in the league standings, leapfrogging Nice in the process. Conversely, Nice's impressive eight-match unbeaten run in the league came to an abrupt end. This defeat follows hot on the heels of their 4-1 loss to Rangers in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday, marking a disappointing week for the club.