Paris: In-form Alexandre Lacazette scored before coming off injured in the first half as Lyon collapsed to a 4-2 defeat away at promoted Dijon in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Lacazette put the visitors 2-1 up on 37 minutes at the Stade Gaston-Gerard with his sixth goal already this season after Corentin Tolisso’s opener for Lyon had been cancelled out by a Frederic Sammaritano penalty.
But the 25-year-old, who on Thursday was recalled to the France squad for the start of their World Cup qualifying campaign, then hobbled off just before the break and was later seen with strapping and an ice pack around his left knee.
Things got worse for Lyon as Dijon came roaring back with goals by Julio Tavares, Dylan Bahamboula and Pierre Lees-Melou to claim their first points since returning to the top flight.
“I am worried. When a player comes off before half-time it is always worrying,” Lyon coach Bruno Genesio told Canal Plus at half-time before adding that the player would undergo tests on Monday to determine the extent of the problem.
Lyon do not play again until hosting Bordeaux in a fortnight but Lacazette must now be a major doubt for France’s upcoming matches in Italy and Belarus.
The situation is similar for Nabil Fekir, who was recalled to the national set-up for the first time since suffering a serious knee injury in France’s friendly win in Portugal almost a year ago.
But he came off in the second half and Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas later revealed he may undergo minor knee surgery on Monday.
“We flouted the fundamental principles of football and were deservedly beaten. Losing Lacazette hurt us and we did not play as well in the second half,” said Genesio of the defeat.
OL had won their opening two league matches thanks to their star striker’s goals but were looking to do something they had not managed since 1981 by making it three straight victories to start a top-flight campaign.
They went in front in the 20th minute when Tolisso followed in to score after Baptiste Reynet in the Dijon goal had beaten away a Sergi Darder shot.
Dijon were level just four minutes later, however, as Sammaritano netted from the spot after Nicolas Nkoulou chopped down Tavares in the box.
The incident was a demonstration of the new application of the laws following the abolition of the so-called ‘triple punishment’ — last season Nkoulou would certainly have been sent off for denying Tavares the opportunity to score, but this time he was only booked.
Caen beat Bastia 2-0, Metz defeated Angers by the same score and Rennes came from behind to draw 1-1 at Montpellier.
Marseille recorded their first win of the season on Friday, beating Lorient 2-0 at the Stade Velodrome with Remy Cabella and Bafetimbi Gomis netting.
