Ligue 1 wrap: Lille remain on track, Rennes held

Lille extended their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to five points after they won 2-1 at Brest as title rivals Stade Rennes dropped points on Saturday.

The league leaders made the trip to Stade Francis Le Ble expecting a win, with the hosts having fallen dramatically from their spot at the top of Ligue 1 earlier in the season.

Prior to Saturday’s match, they had dropped out of the top half and won just two matches from their last 12, a stark contrast to Lille who have been recording victories with ease in recent times.

But they were made to work for the win on Saturday, especially when Benoit Lesoimier converted Jonathan Ayite’s assist after 19 minutes to give Brest a surprise lead.

Lille got a goal back seven minutes before half-time through Yao Gervinho before the league’s top-scorer, Moussa Sow, scored shortly after the restart to net his 19th Ligue 1 goal for the club this season.

Sow’s side held on for all three points and they were given a bonus when Stade Rennes could only manage a point, albeit in a 1-1 away draw with third-placed Lyon.

Lille’s challengers met at the Stade de Gerland in an exciting game of football, headlined by Kevin Theophile Catherine’s 87th-minute equaliser for the visitors which cancelled out Bafetimbi Gomis’ first-half goal for Lyon.

Rennes came from behind to get the point despite the sending off of Colombian Victor Hugo Montano, who was given his marching orders with 25 minutes remaining.

In other matches, second-from-bottom Lens stunned Montpellier with a 4-1 away win.

Goals inside the first half from Kanga Akale, Sebastian Roudet and a Joris Marveaux own goal handed Montpellier a 3-0 lead at the break and despite Garry Bocaly’s 57th-minute strike for the hosts, any chance of a comeback were wiped when Issam Jemaa scored five minutes later for Lens.

Bordeaux scored two goals in the last 10 minutes claim a 2-2 draw at Valenciennes, thanks to late finishes from Jussie and Mickael Ciani.

Gael Danic had scored twice to give Valenciennes the lead but they failed to hold on and have now gone five Ligue 1 matches without a win.

An Ireneusz Jelen double helped Auxerre to a 2-0 home win over Sochaux while two of the top-half sides, Lorient and Saint-Etienne, played out a goalless draw.

Mauro Cetto’s 93rd-minute own goal gave Nice a point against Toulouse in a 1-1 draw, with Cetto’s late intervention ruling out Federico Santander’s 27th-minute opener.