In a thrilling Ligue 1 encounter on Sunday, Lyon showcased their attacking prowess with a resounding 5-2 victory over Metz, fueled by a sensational hat-trick from Endrick. Meanwhile, Nice secured their first league win since October with a convincing 4-1 triumph against Nantes.
Endrick, the 19-year-old Brazilian forward on loan from Real Madrid, is quickly establishing himself as a rising star in French football. His performance against Metz was nothing short of spectacular, demonstrating the shrewdness of Lyon's decision to acquire him. Endrick has now tallied four goals and one assist in just three appearances since joining the team.
Lyon took the lead in the 11th minute when captain Corentin Tolisso delivered a cross that Endrick deftly flicked in with his left foot. The visitors doubled their advantage five minutes later as Ruben Kluivert converted Khalis Merah's cross. Endrick appeared to have scored again in the 22nd minute, but the goal was ruled offside. Tyler Morton then extended Lyon's lead with a powerful low drive from the edge of the box. Before halftime, Endrick added his second goal, skillfully controlling the ball before sliding it past Metz goalkeeper Jonathan Fischer.
Metz responded with goals from Koffi Kouao and Habib Diallo. However, Endrick sealed his hat-trick in the 87th minute, winning a penalty with skillful footwork and converting it himself. Fischer managed to deny Endrick further goals, saving a close-range header and a low shot. The victory sees Lyon maintain their hold on fourth place in the league standings. The result, however, marks a difficult start for Benoît Tavenot, the new Metz coach.
In other news, Nice ended their winless streak in Ligue 1 with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Nantes. Mohamed-Ali Cho spearheaded the attack, scoring two goals to bring his season total to five. Sofiane Diop and Tom Louchet also contributed to Nice's goal tally. Mostafa Mohamed scored a consolation goal for Nantes.
Mohamed-Ali Cho, who burst onto the scene in 2021 as the youngest player in France to sign a professional contract with Angers at age 16, played a crucial role in Nice's victory.
Nice's turnaround comes under the guidance of coach Claude Puel, who has suffered only one defeat in five games since replacing Franck Haise. Puel's disciplined approach aims to provide stability during a challenging period for Nice, which has received backing from British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe's chemical company Ineos since 2019. This is Puel's second stint as Nice coach; he previously coached the team from 2012 to 2016.
