PARIS — Teenage forward Maxwell Cornet scored twice as Lyon won 2-0 at Montpellier on Friday to boost its bid to finish second in the French league.
Lyon won both their matches 5-1 last season and took control after Cornet struck in the 34th minute, controlling a pass from midfielder Jordan Ferri and poking the ball into the bottom corner.
The 19-year-old Cornet got his second six minutes later when top scorer Alexandre Lacazette broke into the penalty area and expertly picked him out for a tap-in.
The win moves Lyon provisionally into second place on goal difference ahead of Monaco, which plays at Lille on Sunday.
Lyon hosts Monaco in the penultimate game of the season.
Paris Saint-Germain has already won the league and leads Monaco and Lyon by 25 points ahead of its trip to Guingamp on Saturday.
PSG faces a tough trip to Manchester City on Tuesday in the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal with the match delicately poised at 2-2.
With that in mind, coach Laurent Blanc has rested star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, winger Angel Di Maria, forward Edinson Cavani, midfielder Thiago Motta, centre half Thiago Silva and left back Maxwell.
At Stade de la Mosson, midfielder Morgan Sanson was the home side’s liveliest player and drew a good save from Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes in the 60th.
With the victory all but sealed, Lyon coach Bruno Genesio brought on attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir with five minutes to go.
Fekir badly damaged the cruciate ligament in his right knee last September playing for France against Portugal and made his comeback in Lyon’s reserves last weekend.
"It’s great to get back out there," Fekir said. "It’s difficult to come back after such an injury."
Fekir almost scored in the last minute when his lob sailed just over.
