Lyon´s season in freefall

The season of French League reigning champions Lyon is in danger of becoming pear-shaped following a 2-0 home loss to Auxerre, meaning a win for Paris Saint Germain later on Sunday would hand them top spot.

Barcelona’s 5-2 midweek thrashing of Lyon to knock them out of the Champions League, plus their recent elimination by Lille while defending the French Cup title, has meant an eighth consecutive league title is now their only aim after four consecutive defeats in all competitions.

Goals from Auxerre’s Ireneusz Jelen and then Thomas Kahlenberg in the third minute of injury time condemned Lyon to their first home defeat of the season following seven wins and six draws at their Gerland stadium.

Lyon’s last home league defeat was way back in November 2007.

A victory for PSG against arch-rivals Marseille at the Parc des Princes would put them two points clear at the top, making a trophyless season for Lyon a possibility following a league and cup double last year.

Towards the end of an uneventful first half, Jelen made the most of a bad clearance by Lyon defender Jean-Alain Boumsong and a Kahlenberg pass to find the net before Kahlenberg scored himself by lobbing keeper Hugo Lloris, who had come too far off his line, in the third minute of injury time.

Two minutes before the second goal, Auxerre had failed to convert a penalty kick when Cedric Hengbart’s effort was saved by Lloris, who had fouled Kevin Lejeune in the box moments earlier.