Alexandre Lacazette strike secures victory for Lyon over Reims

Alexandre Lacazette scored his first league goal from open play since April as Lyon claimed a slender 1-0 win over Reims.

Lacazette's strike on 44 minutes proved enough for the hosts to see off Olivier Guegan's side, who have made an impressive start to the season and had lost only once before Saturday.

The France international also missed a first-half penalty, his second failure of the season from 12 yards, as his powerful effort came back off the crossbar.

Despite being forced to make an early change when influential defender Milan Bisevac picked up an injury, Lyon dominated the first half and looked like getting reward for their efforts when Jaba Kankava handled inside the area.

Lacazette took his trademark short run-up but, as in their Champions League clash with Gent, last season's top scorer failed to find the target with his spot-kick on 41 minutes.

However, Lyon's much-coveted striker did not have to wait much longer to make the breakthrough.

After playing a neat one-two with Claude Beauvue just outside the area, his effort from 18 yards sneaked in the bottom corner with the aid of a deflection, prompting emotional celebrations.

The hosts continued to dominate after the restart and Beauvue was millimetres away from adding a second on 56 minutes when his header from Mathieu Valbuena's corner came back off the bar.

Lacazette thought he had doubled his tally for the evening midway through the second half when he latched on to Steed Malbranque's pass before finishing, but the linesman's flag denied him a second.

Reims almost stole a point very late on but a magnificent save from Anthony Lopes in the hosts' goal denied Prince Oniangue on the half-volley.