Essien Scores, As Lyon win 4-0

PARIS, Oct 15 (Reuters) - Olympique Lyon warmed up for next week's Champions League match at Fenerbahce with a 4-0 demolition of Caen in a Ligue 1 match on Friday.

The win moved Lyon into provisional top spot in the 20-team table on 22 points, three ahead of overnight leaders Lille who host Bastia on Saturday.

The champions wrapped up the match inside half-an-hour with goals by midfielders Mahamadou Diarra and Mickael Essien either side of one from striker Florent Malouda.

Diarra opened the scoring in the 11th minute, heading in a corner before Malouda slotted home a pass from Pierre-Alain Frau from close range four minutes later.

Essien put the result beyond doubt in the 33rd netting a shot by Milnar which was deflected by a Caen defender.

Just after the half hour mark Mickael Essien gave Lyon a comfortable lead when he profited from a loose ball on the edge of the area.

Sidney Govou did all the work down the right wing before passing inside to Frau, whose cross to Nilmar from the right side of the area was blasted goalwards by the Brazilian before being blocked by Plante.

Essien didn't have to be asked twice before pouncing on the loose ball and cannoning it past Plante into the roof of the net.

Lyon 4 -0 Caen

Municipal De Gerland, Attendance: 33,816

Goals: Diarra (12'), Malouda (16'), Michael Essien (34'), Frau (71')

Lyon: Coupet, Abidal, Cacapa, Diatta, Michael Essien(Clement 73'), Reveillere, Diarra, Frau, Govou(Ben Arfa 71'), Malouda(Bergougnoux 78'), da Silva Nilmar

Caen: Plante, Askar, Danjou, Hengbart, Seube, Dufer, Dugardien(Bakour 59'), Eudeline(Jovicic 71'), Hebert(Zubar 59'), Mazure, Watier

Yellow Cards: Danjou (37'), Watier (54')

Referee: Olivier Thual