Radamel Falcao, Kylian Mbappe send Monaco back to the top of Ligue 1

PHILIPPE DESMAZES/AFP/Getty Images

---

Radamel Falcao and Kylian Mbappe fired Monaco back to the top of Ligue 1 with a 2-1 victory at Lyon on Sunday.

A little over 24 hours after Paris Saint-Germain beat Montpellier to nose in front, Monaco retook top spot on goal difference with their 25th win of the campaign -- and they still have a game in hand on the capital club.

Falcao and Mbappe fired Monaco into a two-goal lead with goals in the last 10 minutes of the first half, and although Lucas Tousart pulled one back for the hosts early in the second half, they rarely worried Leonardo Jardim's men.

In what has become familiar fashion this season, Monaco were quickly on the front foot.

Neither Thomas Lemar nor Falcao managed to test the goalkeeper with early chances before Mbappe brought the first save of the match in the 13th minute, although it was relatively straightforward for Anthony Lopes as the teenager shot from a tight angle.

Lyon did not get a sight of goal until the 25th minute, but Sergi Darder shot high and wide from outside the area.

The hosts went closer soon after when Darder turned provider, teeing up Memphis Depay who shot straight at Danijel Subasic in the centre of the goal.

But there was no disguising the fact that Monaco were on top, and there were further chances for Mbappe and Kamil Glik -- who headed wide from close range -- before Falcao opened the scoring in the 36th minute, heading in Glik's corner.

Bernardo Silva was inches away from doubling the lead in the 43rd minute as his shot struck the crossbar, and Falcao then headed wide.

But there was still time for Mbappe to rewrite the half-time team talks as he slotted in from the right-hand side of the area.

Lyon came out for the second half looking rejuvenated, with Maciej Rybus and Maxwel Cornet having sights of goal before Tousart pulled a goal back in the 51st minute, heading in Depay's corner.

It took considerable time for Monaco to reassert their authority, and their first sight of goal since the restart came in the 59th minute, when Glik headed wide, with Lemar denied by Lopes soon after.

The game was moving from end to end but chances were few and far between, with one of the best falling to Monaco substitute Valere Germain soon after he replaced Mbappe, only for Lopes to make the save.

It descended into a scrappy finish, with the referee's whistle sounding for a series of fouls in the final minutes before one last blow signalled Monaco's return to the summit.