While they had opened the score just before the break, the Mastiffs conceded a penalty from FC Nantes who could even have claimed better without the intervention of the VAR (1-1). The Canaries are reassured when LOSC lets go.
This is the kind of result that counts when it comes time to take stock. Lille started the match with a tile, the injury of Mathias Fernandez-Pardo after a handful of minutes, and finished it with regrets against Nanteswhich certainly slips a notch in the rankings after the convincing victory of Saint-Étienne against Reims earlier in the afternoon, but leaves the North with a hard-won point.
After thatAntoine Kombouare uttered a rant against the media who promised him a certain departure before the resumption, a reaction was expected from the side of the Canaries, replenished by the arrival ofAnthony Lopesobviously starting at Pierre-Mauroy. However, the situation was hardly favorable, to the extent that the Mastiffs could get on the podium and put pressure on OM and Monaco.
We had to wait until the 41st minute to see them open the scoring, logically, even if LOSC did not create an incalculable number of clear opportunities, apart from a cross Remy Cabella to Benjamin Andrew who, after a billiard shot could have pushed the ball to the bottom without a saving intervention from the new goalkeeper (26th).
It was through Cabella, author of a good first period, that Lille put the opposing defense out of position. The international placed a curled ball from the left onto the crossbar and as Lopes repositioned himself and the Nantes defenders went towards goal, Gabriel Gudmundsson took the opportunity alone at the far post to turn and slam an unstoppable right-hander.
Nantes more inspired than Lille
When Nantes concedes the first goal, Nantes does not win. The statistic has held for 24 matches. On a cross from the left signed Queue Thomas, Lucas Chevalier dived to intercept on the ground but released the ball, Johann Lepenant threw himself, the ball arrived on Matthis Abline who gave a step back to Douglas Augustoauthor of a luminous heel for Ignatius Ganagoalone to conclude. Departing for MLS, the Cameroonian put an end to a drought of almost a year and a half… Until the VAR called to report an offside by Lepenant (48th).
Sans Edon Zhegrovainjured and in the stands, LOSC purred. Caught in a false rhythm, he was caught again and, this time, there was no external intervention to prevent Nantes from equalizing. Left on the right, Abline resisted Alexsandro and focused on Mostafa Mohamedjust entered. Bafode Diakité committed a foul on the Egyptian attacker and Abline transformed the penalty, catching Chevalier on the wrong foot (70th).
On his momentum, Abline almost scored a resounding double. After getting on his right foot after a check from the outside, the attacker continued but he found the head of a steward rather than the northern skylight which slipped away (72nd).
Barely inspired, LOSC came up against the Nantes low block, like Jonathan David who could never hit in the match. We had to wait for the start of stoppage time and a returning cross from André to see Cabella break away and force Lopes into a crucial save (90th + 1).
Lille loses two points, does not reach the podium, sees Nice, 5th, come back one point and OM, in the event of a victory against Le Havre on Sunday evening, could be 5 points ahead of LOSC.
