Lyon 2-1 Celtic: Moussa Dembele haunts former club

Neil Lennon’s much-changed side suffer friendly defeat in France

Moussa Dembele took only four minutes to score against his former club. Picture: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty

Moussa Dembele was on target against former club Celtic as Neil Lennon’s men went down to a 2-1 pre-season defeat by Lyon.

Lennon made ten changes to the team that started in the midweek draw with Nice and his inexperienced side fell behind in the fourth minute when Dembele, who has been linked with Manchester United, headed home.

Memphis Depay doubled the hosts’ lead before the break but Celtic improved after Lennon made ten substitutions around the hour mark and Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled a goal back.

Lyon's Houssem Aouar keeps an eye on Celtic's Dutch defender Jeremie Frimpong. Picture: Jeff Pachoud/AFP/Getty

Rangers had already won the Veolia Trophy before hosts Lyon and Celtic lined up at the Groupama Stadium but Lennon was more focused on getting his squad players fit. He started with teenagers Karamoko Dembele and Scott Robertson plus 20-year-old Ewan Henderson in midfield, with goalkeeper Scott Bain the only player to keep his starting place.

Dembele was left unmarked to head home early on but the visitors came close to an equaliser when Olivier Ntcham’s free-kick deflected off the post.

Celtic had a penalty award reversed by VAR when it was ruled that Patryk Klimala had been fouled inches outside the box and Depay netted just before the interval with a clever flick after Boli Bolingoli had been caught out by a cross-field ball.

Depay hit the bar after the break with Bain possibly getting a touch. Elyounoussi had a decent effort saved before the winger netted an impressive solo goal late on.

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