LYON, France --
Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Lyon moved within a point of second-place Paris Saint-Germain in the French league by defeating struggling Caen 3-0 on Friday for a third straight win.
Lacazette opened the scoring in the seventh minute by converting a penalty after Caen defender Jean-Jacques Pierre tripped playmaker Nabil Fekir. The Lyon striker then scored a league-leading 15th goal from a corner to double the lead in the 57th.
Lyon forward Yassine Benzia made it 3-0 in the 62nd by burying a first-time effort into the bottom corner.
''Our goal is to get a European spot,'' Lyon midfielder Maxime Gonalons said. ''We've been missing European matches this season.''
Lyon could have reached halftime with a bigger lead but Caen goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre saved a low strike from Fekir in the 12th, a half-volley from rightback Christophe Jallet in the 23rd and a header from Gonalons in the 32nd.
The hosts kept dominating after the break. Samuel Umtiti redirected a corner toward the far post where Lacazette chested the ball to shoot high past Vercoutre. Five minutes later, Fekir set up Benzia for the third goal.
Vercoutre limited the damage by stopping a penalty from Fekir in the 76th after Caen substitute Jordan Adeoti had fouled the Lyon playmaker. He also diverted a free kick from Rachid Ghezzal onto the post in the 79th.
On Saturday, it's: Nantes vs. Bordeaux; Bastia vs. Rennes; Lorient vs. Metz; Montpellier vs. Lens; and Reims vs. Evian.
On Sunday, leader Marseille visits Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain faces Guingamp, Nice hosts Saint-Etienne and Lille plays Toulouse.
