Football
Associated Press 7y

Germain, Boschilia bag braces as Monaco go two points clear

Striker Valere Germain and midfielder Gabriel Boschilia got two goals each as free-scoring Monaco thrashed struggling Lorient 4-0 in Ligue 1 on Sunday to move two points clear of Nice at the top.

Monaco have scored more league goals than any other team in Europe's top five leagues and this latest rout took the season's tally to 64 in 21 games -- and 90 in 34 overall. It was also the ninth time this season that Monaco have scored at least four goals, following last weekend's impressive 4-1 win at Marseille.

Last Sunday was all about Monaco's lightning counter-attacks, but against a Lorient side with the worst defence in the league, Monaco dictated play easily and Lorient created only one half-chance all game.

Boschilia put Monaco ahead in the 24th minute with a close-range effort after goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte spilled a high ball, and made it 2-0 five minutes later when he put the ball through Lecomte's legs after a fine run and pass from playmaker Bernardo Silva.

The third goal came when Lorient clumsily lost possession in the 38th minute close to goal and, after striker Radamel Falcao's shot came back off the post, Germain collected the loose ball and curled it into the bottom corner.

Poor defending from defender Michael Ciani led to the fourth on the hour mark.

Ciani tried to play his way out of trouble near the touchline, but right-back Djibril Sidibe robbed him of possession and burst toward the penalty area, where Germain took the ball and placed it out of Lecomte's reach.

Striker Alexandre Lacazette again showed why he is rated at around €50 million, scoring a brace to help Lyon to a 3-1 win over Marseille.

Only Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani -- with 20 -- has scored more than Lacazette's 17 league goals, but Cavani has played two games more.

Lacazette struck with clinical finishes in the second half and has now scored eight goals in his last six games for Lyon.

But the goal of the night came from winger Mathieu Valbuena, who is staking a strong claim to get back in the France squad.

Collecting a pass on the left wing in the 43rd minute, he cut outside Japanese right-back Hiroki Sakai, looked up and curled a superb shot into the opposite corner for his sixth goal in the last 10 games.

Valbuena was replaced late on by Memphis Depay, who made his debut after joining this week from Manchester United.

Brazilian centre-half Doria also scored for Marseille.

Angers players may have cause to feel angry when they see replays of defender Loic Perrin's winner in their 2-1 loss to Saint-Etienne.

Perrin was challenging for a cross in the 75th when a defender's clearance struck Perrin on the hand as he raised his arm protectively, and the ball bounced into the goal.

Croatian centre-half Mateo Pavlovic gave Angers an early lead and Saint-Etienne equalized with another stroke of good fortune in the 51st minute. Winger Romain Hamouma's cross from the left struck defender Abdoulaye Bamba and went over goalkeeper Denis Petric.

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