Cherki proud of 'extraordinary' Lyon after Fonseca's side win 13th straight game

Rayan Cherki is immensely proud of the "extraordinary" form Lyon are in, as he watched his former team beat Nice 2-0 on Sunday.

Cherki left Lyon to join Manchester City last summer, ending his stay at his boyhood club.

After a stuttering start to the campaign, Lyon have surged up the Ligue 1 table, with their win over Nice taking them to within six points of second-place Paris Saint-Germain and within seven of surprise leaders Lens.

Paulo Fonseca's team have now reeled off 13 straight wins in all competitions, a run stretching back to December.

It is Lyon's second-longest winning run, after a streak of 14 in 2006, while they have won their last nine home matches.

Speaking after the victory over Nice, Cherki told Ligue 1+: "It's great to be back. A 13th consecutive victory is extraordinary.

"I'm proud to see where OL are right now, I wish them all the best!"

Lyon faced relegation to Ligue 1 before the start of the season had they not balanced the books, with Cherki among the players sold to ease their financial issues.

But Fonseca's team now have Champions League qualification as a realistic aim.

"Today was a very important day. Everyone understands how these three points could be a good step for us," Fonseca told Ligue 1+.

"That's why everyone was so happy at the end. The team's performances so far have been magnificent, and the group deserves it. This victory was very important for us."

Lyon are five points clear of fourth-place Marseille, who could only draw with Strasbourg on Saturday.