Aleksandr Golovin (C) was the hero as Monaco continued their excellent start to the season (Valery HACHE)
Aleksandr Golovin scored twice as Monaco battled back from a goal down to defeat Metz 2-1 on Sunday and return to the Ligue 1 summit, as winless Lyon slumped to the foot of the table.
Monaco had started the weekend at the top of the table, but wins for Paris Saint-Germain and Nice had seen them slip to third place.
Senegalese teenager Lamine Camara gave struggling Metz a surprise lead in the fourth minute.
But Adi Huetter’s Monaco did not panic and almost equalised through Mohamed Camara, before Russian Golovin hammered home in the 42nd minute.
Golovin curled in a brilliant free-kick around the wall early in the second half to give the hosts the lead and they held on with ease.
Monaco moved back one point clear at the top from second-placed Nice, with reigning champions PSG a point further back in third.
“We have to work a lot, a lot in certain areas of the field,” said Huetter, who succeeded Philippe Clement as Monaco coach before the start of the season.
“During the match, I wasn’t really calm. But I’m very happy with the fact that we’re the leaders, with three consecutive victories.”
Lyon’s abysmal start to the campaign continued as the seven-time French champions were beaten 2-1 at home by previous bottom club Clermont.
Fabio Grosso’s side remain without a victory in nine league matches this term and have only three points on the board after a turbulent few months.
The hosts fell two goals down before half-time as goals from Muhammed Cham and Yohann Magnin put Clermont on track for their first win of the season.
An own goal from Florent Ogier early in the second period gave Lyon hope, but they could not find an equaliser and are now the joint-lowest scorers in the division with Clermont on just seven goals.
“We’re not where we should be,” Lyon president John Textor told Amazon Prime.
“There is no risk of relegation but we could have a mediocre season, that is possible.
“That is the risk. I believe in our coach, I believe in the team, everyone is working really hard.”
Lille beat Brest 1-0 with an early goal from Yusuf Yazici which saw them climb above their opponents into fourth on goal difference.
Elsewhere, Toulouse and Reims played out a 1-1 draw, while Nantes saw off Montpellier 2-0.
On Saturday, PSG cruised past Strasbourg 3-0 and Nice edged out 10-man rivals Marseille 1-0.
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