Bentaleb the hero on return as Lille win in Rennes
Match Reports
Sunday's final match in Ligue 1 McDonald's saw away side LOSC Lille keep pace with the chase for the European places, holding off an enterprising Rennes team at Roazhon Park, 2-0, thanks to goals from the returning Nabil Bentaleb and January signing Chuba Akpom.
Samba denies akpom
Given this match pitted two teams against each other who were at opposite ends of the table, it might have seemed an open-and-shut affair if played on paper, but that wasn't counting a recent dip in form on the part of Les Dogues. Bruno Génésio's side may have finished in the Top 8 in the UEFA Champions League league phase, but they had lost each of their last two matches -- both at home -- to Ligue 2 side USL Dunkerque in the Coupe de France and in the league to struggling Le Havre. Rennes, for their part, had won each of their last two games in Ligue 1 McDonald's to pull away from the relegation scrap under Habib Beye, beating AS Saint-Étienne and RC Strasbourg.
The match started at a breakneck pace, but for all of its vigor, clearcut chances were few and far between, with a back-post save required from Rennes' Brice Samba in the eighth minute the only chance of note. That would change five minutes from the break, though, as Ngal'Ayel Mukau's shot hit the hand of Rennes defender Christopher Wooh. The referee pointed to the spot, and up stepped Akpom, but his effort was weak and easily stopped by Samba, leaving the match level at halftime.
Nabil Bentaleb’s amazing story 🥹🇩🇿
⚽️ May 19, 2024: Last L1 match
⚽️ June 18, 2024: Suffers cardiac arrest
⚽️ June 27, 2024: Told his career was probably over
⚽️ Feb. 12, 2025: Back to training
⚽️ Feb. 16, 2025: First match back with a goal
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME. 😍 pic.twitter.com/B6qwi0M2le— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 16, 2025
bentaleb the hero
With each of Nice, Monaco, Marseille and Lyon having won, Lille were under the cosh to get a result, but were forced to do so without the still-absent Edon Zhegrova and Jonathan David, who was a last-minute absentee. Despite Les Dogues' efforts, Rennes would have the first big chance of the second half, with Lucas Chevalier saving smartly at his near post from Lilian Brassier. Lille would respond through Mitchel Bakker, but the Dutchman was denied by Samba's fine kick save.
Rennes' resistance would continue until the 80th minute, with Akpom having had a goal chalked off by VAR in the interim. Playing with ten men after Wooh's sending-off, the hosts would concede to Bentaleb, back from more than six months out following a cardiac issue, the midfielder turning home at the back post at a corner to give his side a lead they wouldn't relinquish. Up 1-0, they would double that margin six minutes later as Akpom would finally get his goal, slotting cleverly past Samba for his second in as many matches.
With the win, Lille leapfrogged Lyon to go fifth ahead of a massive match against Monaco at the weekend, while Rennes stayed 13th, five points outside of the bottom three before they take on Stade de Reims on Friday.
The stat: 5
All five away teams won in Ligue 1 McDonald's in Sunday's action -- on the weekend, only Marseille and Monaco won among the nine hosts.
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