Dembele double gives Lyon 2-0 win over St Etienne in Ligue 1

Olympique Lyonnais soared into the Ligue 1 top five after a 2-0 home win over local rivals St Etienne on Sunday.

A Moussa Dembele brace and a string of fine saves by Anthony Lopes gave them victory.

The result lifted Lyon five places to fifth in the standings on 40 points from 27 games while St Etienne stayed 16th on 29 points, two points above the relegation zone.

Dembele put the home side ahead with a glancing header in the 27th minute, after Lucas Tousart floated over a free-kick from the left.

He sealed the win with a stoppage time penalty kick.

The hosts also had two goals ruled out after the break, one for handball and the other for offside, but St Etienne got the upper hand in the second half and missed several chances.

Lyon goalkeeper Lopes parried a stinging low drive by Lois Diony in the 50th minute and then twice denied Denis Bouanga as the visitors piled on the pressure in the closing stages.

With St Etienne throwing men forward, Lyon substitute Karl Toko Ekambi raced clear.

His shot from the edge of the area struck Saint-Etienne’s Yann M’Vila on the arm in the area, and Dembele’s dinked penalty kick beat goalkeeper Jessy Moulin.

Fourth-placed Lille ground out a 1-0 win at Nantes, while Nice held Girondins Bordeaux to a 1-1 draw in a mid-table clash.

Lille’s Benjamin Andre struck in the 58th minute to keep them in contention for a top-three finish and UEFA Champions League football next season.

Nice midfielder Adam Ounas cancelled out a Nicollas De Preville opener for Bordeaux.

Lille have 46 points from 27 games, a point behind Stade Rennes who occupy the final UEFA Champions League spot behind leaders PSG, who have 68 points, and Olympique Marseille on 55.