Depay shines as Lyon routs Metz 5-0 in French league
PARIS (AP) Brazilian defender Marcelo scored twice and forward Memphis Depay was involved in every goal as Lyon piled more misery on last-place Metz with a 5-0 win in the French league on Sunday, keeping its chances alive in the race for Champions League qualification.
With six matches left this season, the seven-time French champions cut their deficit with second-place Monaco to seven points.
Paris Saint-Germain has a 14-point lead at the top of the standings and can seal its fifth title in six years with a win against Monaco next weekend.
It was Lyon's fourth 5-0 win of the season, and its fourth consecutive league win. The result took Lyon to third, level on points with Marseille.
Under the guidance of an excellent Depay, who delivered four assists and scored one goal, Lyon was in control throughout. Marcelo scored in the opening minute of the game at the Saint-Symphorien stadium with a header and doubled the visitors' lead in the 21st from another corner kick.
Depay made it 3-0 in the 65th with a chipped finish before Bertrand Tarore and Mariano Diaz completed the rout.
''I can do even better with more belief in myself,'' Depay said. ''I delivered four assists tonight, but I could have had more and scored more goals. I like to play in that role because I'm close to the goal.''
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PARKING THE BUS
Montpellier came to Marseille to defend and held its Mediterranean rival to its first 0-0 home draw this season in the French league.
Montpellier, the league's second-best defense with just 26 goals conceded in 32 matches, shut down Marseille's attack and survived the hosts' heavy pressing in the final half-hour.
Marseille's best chances came after the interval through Morgan Sanson and substitute striker Konstantinos Mitroglou. After being set up by Dimitri Payet, Sanson hit the post with a low shot and Mitroglou forced Montpellier goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte into a fine save with a beautiful volley.
Marseille failed to get a penalty soon after when Vitorino Hilton fouled Mitroglou with a tackle from behind.
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NICE HELD BY RENNES
With both teams competing for Europa League qualification, Nice and Rennes shared the points with a 1-1 draw.
Alassane Plea put Nice in the lead with a deflected shot and Benjamin Bourigeaud leveled from close range near the half-hour mark.
Rennes is in fifth place with 47 points, just one more than Riviera side Nice.
