Jose Fonte's late equaliser extended the unbeaten run of Ligue 1 Uber Eats leaders Lille to nine games but they struggled to a 1-1 draw at home to Strasbourg on Sunday.
THE MATCH
Lille had seen Paris Saint-Germain close to within a point thanks to their win at Dijon on Saturday while Monaco won against Brest earlier on Sunday to leave the top four divided by just three points.
Strasbourg had won four of their previous seven away games, and promised to make life difficult for the hosts. They certainly did so: when Frédéric Guilbert's cross came into the box, it found Ludovic Ajorque, who steered a shot beyond Mike Maignan in the home goal to give Thierry Laurey's side the lead (36').
The Strasbourg coach was forced to leave the dug-out due to stomach problems during the game, but his side maintained their stride. It took a double save from Maignan to turn aside an Ajorque header and then stop the rangy forward's point-blank follow-up (38').
Sven Botman's header from a Jonathan Ikoné brought Eiji Kawashima into action for the first time — the Japan international tipped the young Dutchman's header over the crossbar — just before the break (42'); he then needed to dive full length to halt an Ikoné drive (62') as Lille, knocked out of the Europa League by Ajax on Thursday, struggled to get their attacking fluency.
Timothy Weah came off the bench to replace Jonathan Bamba just after the hour mark, and the USMNT striker very nearly brought his team level, picking up a pass from Xeka before seeing his shot ricochet off Ibrahima Sissoko and flash just wide of the target (74').
Yusuf Yazici also came off the bench, and fired a free-kick on target that Kawashima blocked (83') before Fonte saved his side from a damaging defeat, climbing highest at the back post to head Benjamin André's cross beyond Kawashima (86') to keep Lille top of the pile.
Lyon can close the gap at the top of the table to just a point if they beat Marseille in Sunday's late kick-off.
THE PLAYER: Jose Fonte
The Lille captain has so often been crucial at the back this season, but his goal could be absolutely vital come the final reckoning in the title race.
THE STAT: 7
Strasbourg have not won in their last seven league games against Lille, losing four times.
Elsewhere, Arnaud Kalimuendo scored an added time equaliser as Lens came back from trailing 2-0 inside 10 minutes at Angers to pull level with fifth-placed Metz on points. Montpellier missed an opportunity to close on the pair as they were held to a goalless draw at Reims.
At the bottom of the table, Arnaud Laurienté's brace, including an 86th-minute matchwinner, secured a 2-1 win over Saint-Etienne to move Lorient out of the bottom three; Nîmes are third from bottom after their 1-1 draw at home to Nantes.
