Ligue leaders Lille saw their 13-game unbeaten run in all competitions come to an abrupt end on Sunday as they sank to a potentially damaging 1-0 defeat at Montpellier.
Moroccan attacking midfielder Younes Belhanda claimed the game’s only goal in the 84th minute, condemning Lille to a first league defeat since October and breathing new life into the title race in the process.
Stade Rennais won 2-1 at Toulouse to close to within two points of Lille, while fellow title contenders Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain are now all within four points of the leaders.
Photo: EPA
Lille found Montpellier frustrating opponents in a scrappy game at Stade de la Mosson that was high on physical engagement and low on quality.
Belhanda made the breakthrough with six minutes remaining, the 20-year-old firing low into the bottom-left corner from the edge of the box after wading into Lille territory from the right flank.
Victory moved Montpellier up to sixth in the table.
Rennes took the lead in the late game at Toulouse when the hosts goalkeeper, Marc Vidal, failed to keep out a well-struck Yann M’Vila free-kick.
Franck Tabanou had hit the crossbar for Toulouse in the first half and he created his side’s equalizer on the hour.
The 22-year-old’s left-wing cross was pushed away by Rennes goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez, but the ball struck defender Kevin Theophile-Catherine and bounced into the net for an own-goal.
Rennes won a late penalty when Adrian Gunino was penalized for a clumsy challenge on Jerome Leroy and with Vidal forced off after colliding with Leroy, Victor Hugo Montano slammed his spot-kick past reserve goalkeeper Ali Ahamada.
Earlier, Paris Saint-Germain secured a routine 3-0 victory at Nice that allowed them to hold onto fifth place, level on points with fourth-place Lyon.
The visitors had been held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Lens in their previous outing, but they took the lead in the 24th minute when Ludovic Giuly pounced on Guillaume Hoarau’s knock-down to head home from close range.
Hoarau found the net himself on the verge of halftime, chesting down a lofted pass from Nene, before guiding a half-volley into the top-left corner.
Centerback Sylvain Armand made it 3-0 with 16 minutes remaining, converting a rebound after Nene’s shot had been saved by Nice goalkeeper David Ospina.
Nice finished the game with 10 men after rightback Drissa Diakite collected two yellow cards for a pair of fouls on Nene.
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