(Ligue 1 2022/2023): Highlights LYON - REIMS

Able to keep their hopes of a top-five finish alive, Lyon welcomed Reims to the Groupama for the season's ultimate round of games. Auel needed some help from those above them in order to do so, though, coming into the weekend at 7th, with 6th-placed Rennes and 5th-placed Lille 3 and 4 points better off, respectively. With 6-point gap to Clermont in 8th, at least, the only way was up. It was also likely the case for Reims, meanwhile, who had Lorient, Nice and Clermont within 2 points of them. Surely wanted to honour Will Steele's incredible job this year with a top-half finish. The coach's striking sensation, Flo Baligan, failed to convert an opportunity to give them the lead a few seconds into the match, however. And they'll be punished for that another matter of seconds later, when Rennes defender Emmanuel Agbedou inadvertently collected Bradley Barkler's cross into his own net. Lyon take the lead inside 2 minutes, when admitting their earliest goal scored by an opponent since 1954. This has looked for an equally instant response, but Baligan could again only find the side netting. Frustration for the Arsenal loanee. France's top scorer may have fluffed his lines, but Lyon's main marksman would have no such problems. Barkler with a more traditional assist, cutting back and laying the ball up for his captain, Alexandre Lacazette, who thumped home his 27th league goal of the season. One short of killing Mbappé at the top of the chance, and also one short of the record for a Lyon player in a top-flight season, held by himself in 2016-17. Barkler has delivered 7 assists now for Lacazette in 2023, 2 more than the nearest team-mate combo in the league, and 5 assists from Leo Messi for Mbappé. France did their utmost to pull a goal back before the break, and they did put the ball in the back of the net in the 41st minute through Junior Ito's close-range strike. However, celebrations were cut short due to an offside in the build-up, so the hosts retained their 2-goal lead through to the break. Lacazette had already scored an own goal, and Akadu's evening was about to go from bad to worse soon after the restart. Initially given a yellow card for a foul on Lacazette on the edge of the area, VAR intervened again. We saw the colour of said card upgraded with straight red, but denying a goal-scoring opportunity. The VAR office was to have a very busy night. After ruling out another Ito goal, the infamous VAR offside lines would finally come to the wayside's rescue for once, as they ruled out what would have been a record-equalling and Mbappé-equalling driven finish for Lacazette. A third would arrive though, when Maxence Kakeré's free-kick evaded everyone, including Yvan Jouff. Back-to-back games for the midfielder, missed by everyone, clearly catching Jouff out. The ball in the back of the net, 3-0 the final score. The young remain seventh, but retain hopes of a European spot. After Monaco's loss, it means they are now three points behind fifth-placed Rennes heading into the final game.