Lille climbed to third place in Ligue 1 on Friday with a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Nice at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. The win marked their first since early December and extended their unbeaten run in the league to 14 matches.
Match Summary: Lille vs. Nice
- First Half: Nice opened the scoring in the 29th minute when Sofiane Diop capitalized on Lucas Chevalier’s parry to slot the ball into an empty net. The visitors nearly doubled their lead just before halftime, but Tanguy Ndombele’s volley from a corner rattled the crossbar.
- Second Half: Lille responded swiftly, with Hakon Haraldsson leveling the score just three minutes after the restart. The Icelandic midfielder fired a precise shot into the near post. Bafode Diakite then sealed the win in the 63rd minute, capitalizing on a lucky bounce before smashing the ball into the roof of the net.
Key Stats: Lille vs. Nice
- Expected Goals (xG): Nice created 2.87 xG compared to Lille’s 1.02, highlighting their wastefulness in front of goal.
- Big Chances: Nice converted only one of their four major opportunities, which ultimately cost them the match.
The defeat dropped Nice to fifth place in the standings, while Lille’s resilience saw them move into the top three, showcasing their determination in a tightly contested Ligue 1 race.
Montpellier Stun Monaco with Shock Win
In Friday’s earlier match, bottom-of-the-table Montpellier pulled off a stunning 2-1 victory over Monaco, earning their first league win since November 10.
- First Half: Monaco took the lead in the 32nd minute when Thilo Kehrer headed home Lamine Camara’s cross.
- Second Half: Montpellier roared back with Mousa Al Ta’mari scoring twice. He equalized in the 55th minute from close range and grabbed the winner in the 82nd minute by converting Arnaud Nordin’s cross.
Monaco’s best chance to regain the lead came in the 73rd minute, but Soungoutou Magassa’s header struck the woodwork. The loss extended Monaco’s winless run in Ligue 1 to four matches and saw them slip to fourth after Lille’s victory.
Impact on Ligue 1 Table
- Lille: Move up to third with 39 points, keeping their unbeaten streak alive.
- Nice: Drop to fifth, struggling to convert chances despite strong performances.
- Monaco: Fall to fourth after a disappointing outing, missing the chance to close the gap on the top two.
- Montpellier: Remain bottom but close the gap to safety, now just four points away from escaping the relegation zone.
Looking Ahead
Lille’s comeback win and Montpellier’s surprise triumph add intrigue to the Ligue 1 table as the weekend’s matches unfold. Both Nice and Monaco will need to regroup quickly to stay in the hunt for European spots.
