Depay hat-trick powers Lyon to win over Dijon in season opener
Lyon began the new French season with a 4-1 victory over Dijon on Friday.
LYON (AFP) - Memphis Depay scored a hat-trick including two penalties as Champions League semi-finalists Lyon began the new French season with a 4-1 victory over Dijon on Friday.
Dutch forward Depay bagged his first Ligue 1 goals since December, having missed the coronavirus-shortened second half of last season after rupturing knee ligaments just before Christmas.
"I m really happy to have scored three goals tonight. It wasn t my best match personally. We needed to win and that s what we did," said Depay.
"It s a strange feeling going from one season to another very quickly," he added, with the game coming just nine days after Lyon s 3-0 loss to Bayern in Lisbon.
Lyon sporting director Juninho has said there will be departures before the end of the transfer window on October 5 as the club heads into its first season without European football since 1996-97.
Depay, along with Houssem Aouar and Moussa Dembele, have repeatedly been linked with moves but the 26-year-old insisted he is concentrating on helping Lyon make a run at ending Paris Saint-Germain s dominance.
"I m focused on OL. I can dream of big clubs but I m looking to do my best here," said Depay, who doesn t believe the lighter schedule this season is necessarily a plus.
"I don t think not playing in Europe is an advantage because when you play in Europe you get better."
Lyon, who finished a poor seventh last term, were without midfielder Aouar for their opening game of the new campaign after he tested positive for Covid-19 earlier in the day, and the home side fell behind to a first Dijon goal for Aurelien Scheidler.
Depay, the Lyon captain, equalised from the penalty spot after Ahmad Ngouyamsa barged Maxwel Cornet over as Rudi Garcia s side turned the game in their favour with three goals in the space of six minutes just before half-time at the Groupama Stadium.
The former Manchester United winger spun past his defender on the corner of the box and fizzed in a dangerous low cross that caused Dijon s Wesley Lautoa to poke into his own net and give Lyon the lead.
Seconds after the subsequent restart Depay struck again, Karl Toko Ekambi s deflected ball finding its way to the Dutchman who displayed great poise and skill to volley beyond Alfred Gomis from six yards.
Senegal goalkeeper Gomis produced a magnificent save to deny Depay his hat-trick on the hour as Lyon continued to attack freely.
England youth international Jonathan Panzo, who won the Under-17 World Cup alongside Phil Foden in 2017, came on for his Dijon debut in the second half two days after the defender s arrival on a three-year deal from Monaco.
The Chelsea academy graduate promptly conceded another penalty after a VAR review as he was adjudged to have clipped the heels of Leo Dubois.
Depay again converted by blasting home via the underside of the crossbar to seal his hat-trick on a memorable return to top-flight action.
Nine games are scheduled in Ligue 1 this weekend, with Marseille due to visit Brest on Sunday despite another three reported coronavirus cases at the club.
Marseille s planned opener against Saint-Etienne last Friday was postponed after five players tested positive for Covid-19.
Title holders PSG s scheduled game at Lens on Saturday has been pushed back to September 10 following their run to the final of the Champions League in Lisbon.
