Just before the match the home side coach Remi Garde insisted that there are 'no certainties' as Olympique Lyonnais gear up to meet GNK Dinamo Zagreb in Group D. 'Three points would be very welcome. We know how important this second game is, especially after our draw at Ajax in the opening game. We need to win to feel the full benefit of that first result', Garde said. They did: Lyon marked their 100th Champions League encounter with their first group stage victory of the 2011-12 campaign, defeating Dinamo 2-0.
Lyon had started in a dominant fashion, moving the ball about well and unsettling the visiting side. Clement Grenier produced a cross from the right flank for Jimmy Briand, whose close-range effort was blocked and Gomis pounced on the rebound only to send the ball over the bar.
The hosts again missed the target in the 17th after Dinamo goalkeeper Ivan Kelava weakly punched a corner kick but midfielder Maxime Gonalons fired over from mere few meters.
Lyon's opening goal came from a counter attack, Gomis winning the ball in midfield and chipping Kelava from the edge of the box.
Dinamo nearly leveled in the 31st but Montenegro striker Fatos Beqiraj was a split second late to slide home a low cross from Luis Ibanez.
The hosts might have added to their lead soon afterwards, but Gomis scooped another fine chance over the top as Kim Kallstrom offered superb service from the left.
Accurate deliveries from Kallstrom would be a feature of the evening, and when a corner kick from the ex-Rennes man fell to the unmarked Kone a mere few meters from goal, he had no problems diverting a shot into the net.
Before the halftime, Clement Grenier might have added a third; the save from Kelava deserves credit.
Opportunities for the Jurcic side were scarce. It took the visiting side over an hour to muster their first effort on goal, though Sammir’s effort was nullified by a heavy deflection. Moments later, though, it took a superb block from Kim Kallstrom to prevent the impressive Domagoj Vida scrambling home from a corner.
In the closing stages, Dinamo continued to press for a way back into the match as Lyon were content largely to play out time.
'I'm very proud of my players,' Lyon coach Remi Garde told French television.
'Dinamo could not play like it wanted because my team made a lot of defensive efforts. Our attack made the difference, so it was a good evening.'
Group leader Real Madrid beat Ajax 3-0 in the night's other match.
Lyon is in second place, trailing Madrid by two points. The two teams will meet on October 18 while Dinamo will host Ajax.
