Mama Balde celebrates after scoring his first goal for Lyon (LOIC VENANCE)
Brest were unable to close the gap to Paris Saint-Germain when they fell to a 1-0 away defeat against a determined Lens in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
An opportunistic goal just after the half-hour mark by Ruben Aguilar was the difference as second-placed Brest remain nine points behind leaders PSG.
Lens move up to fourth with the win and sit level on points with Monaco, who occupy the last automatic Champions League qualification spot.
“We’re continuing to move forward… When I arrived (from Monaco), Monaco were first and Lens were 17th,” said Aguilar.
“But I knew where I was signing, I knew the project.”
Aguilar reacted quickest on 32 minutes when David Pereira Da Costa’s cross came back off the post and the defender was on hand to convert.
Brest pressed for the equalising goal but could not beat Brice Samba in the Lens goal.
The goalkeeper made a fine save from Hugo Magnetti just after the hour when he strongly beat away the midfielder’s fierce drive.
But when they did beat Samba, the post was there to save the hosts.
Martin Satriano beat the ‘keeper with 11 minutes remaining but his strike took a nick off Jonathan Gradit and thudded into the woodwork.
“I get now why they are second, they’re a very, very good team. They set a Champions League pace for us,” Samba said to Canal+.
Nonetheless, PSG now have the chance to open up a 12-point lead at the head of Ligue 1 when they host Reims on Sunday.
– Lyon move up –
Two goals in the second half gave Lyon a 2-0 victory on the Breton coast against Lorient.
Nicolas Tagliafico and Mama Balde struck inside 20 minutes of the break to get Lyon back to winning ways after last weekend’s 3-0 defeat at home to Lens.
The win sends Lyon above Toulouse and into tenth spot, now seven points clear of the danger zone.
The first period was a tactical affair, which the visitors dominated but could not find a way past Yvon Mvogo in the Lorient goal.
Argentinian defender Tagliafico finally gave Lyon the lead seven minutes after half-time when he dived to head in Clinton Mata’s cross.
Balde doubled the lead on 65 minutes, rounding Mvogo and holding off interest from the defence to finish a lighting counter-attack.
It was the 28-year-old striker’s first goal for Lyon since arriving on loan from Troyes in the summer.
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