Lille remained on the heels of the Ligue 1 leaders after welcoming in 2025 with a disappointing 1-1 dwelling draw towards Nantes on Saturday whereas solely a final minute own-goal saved Lyon’s blushes towards backside facet Montpellier.
Remy Cabella capitalised on one of many few possibilities of a colorless recreation in Lille to place the hosts in management as half-time approached.
However any hopes of overtaking third-placed Monaco went out the window when 21-year-old striker Matthis Abline secured the Seventieth-minute equaliser from the penalty spot.
“We simply weren’t ok in each division,” Lille coach Bruno Genesio noticed frankly.
After additionally letting two factors slip from their grasp in December towards one other group means beneath them, table-footers Montpellier, Genesio identified: “It is these kind of matches that depart us with a sense of unfinished enterprise.
“Now we have little or no margin, we’ve to remain completely focussed.”
Saint-Etienne brushed away any lingering post-festive blues to report a 3-1 win over mid-table guests Reims.
Saint-Etienne needed to come from behind to reverse a run of 4 consecutive losses, with a brace from Augustine Boakye incomes new coach Eirik Horneland his first win on the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium.
In Saturday’s late match Lyon thought any title aspirations they nonetheless entertained had been dented by a feisty Montpellier however Khalil Fayad’s personal purpose within the first minute of stoppage time broke the away group’s coronary heart and moved Lyon to inside two factors of third-placed Monaco.
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