Back in the trenches: It's the hope that kills you - just ask Lyon fans

Three wins in their last three Ligue 1 games gave Olympique Lyonnais some hope that this season has something more on offer for them - and not just a gritty fight against relegation from the French top-flight. However, the old saying says it's the hope that kills you.

Les Lyonnais were soundly beaten by Le Havre Athletic Club on Sunday night and ended the weekend third-bottom, in the place that ultimately led into a relegation playoff.

Playing at Stade Oceane on the north coast of France, Lyon conceded early on, with Gautier Lloris on target. It put the visitors on the back foot for most of the match, with only captain Alexandre Lacazette giving them a few minutes of belief after the hosts had made it 2-0 briefly after the restart through Emmanuel Sabbi.

HAC left-back Christopher Operi made it 3-1 with a spectacular strike just after the hour mark, and made Les Gones' fans wonder why the heck they didn't choose a more constructive way to spend their Sunday afternoon.

Lyon were fighting an uphill battle for most of the game, especially because they were made to play with ten men for more than an hour - their Irish defender Jake O'Brien receiving a red card for a reckless challenge half an hour in. By that point, Le Havre were ahead already.

Le Havre are having a great season and they knocked the ball around with confidence as Les Lyonnais were made to chase after shadows. The visitors earned themselves another red card late in the game, Croatian defender Duje Caleta-Car getting a straight sending-off for a mindless lunge on Nabil Alioui some 70 metres from his net.

LIGUE 1 - MATCHDAY 18

Friday

Marseille - Strasbourg 1-1 (1-0)

/Gigot 2 - Sebas 90+1/

Saturday

Monaco - Reims 1-3 (0-1)

/Ben Yedder 49 - Teuma 35, Khadra 55, Matusiwa 90+4/

Rennes - Nice 2-0 (1-0)

/Bourigeaud 31 pen, Kalimuendo 54/

Sunday

Lille - Lorient 3-0 (1-0)

/David 37, Cabella 30, Zhergrova 90+2/

Brest - Montpellier 2-0 (0-0)

/Magnetti 48, Le Douaron 90+1/

Metz - Toulouse 0-1 (0-1)

/Sierro 12 pen/

Nantes - Clermont 1-2 (0-1)

/Mollet 47 - Nicholson 29, Allevinah 89/

Le Havre - Lyon 3-1 (1-0)

/Lloris 18, Sabbi 50, Operi 62 - Lacazette 54/

22.45: (4.20) Lens (3.60) PSG (1.95)

***odds are subject to change***