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David rediscovers teeth as Chevalier loses some in nervy Lille win / Photo: © AFP
David rediscovers teeth as Chevalier loses some in nervy Lille win
Lille moved back into the Ligue 1 top four on Sunday as Nice revived their European challenge by ending a five match winless streak.
With Paris-Saint Germain already crowned champions, the also-rans are battling for European places.
Jonathan David scored twice as Lille beat visiting Auxerre 3-1 in a game that ended with two dramatic twists in added time.
After Thomas Meunier and David, with his first goal since March 8, struck in the first half, a anxious Lille side nursed their two-goal lead until the second minute of added time. Then defender Alexsandro and goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier collided, the ball ended up in the back of the net with Chevalier laid out on the ground.
"We were scared," said Lille coach Bruno Genesio, who added that Chevalier had suffered "two or three broken teeth."
David settled Lille nerves in the seventh minute of added time.
Nice beat struggling Angers 2-1 for a first home win since February 23 and a first win anywhere since March 1.
The hosts dominated possession and broke though when defensive midfielder Pablo Rosario burst into the box after 36 minutes and headed home.
Ali Abdi headed a second after 47 minutes but Nice's injury-depleted defence allowed Yassin Belkhdim space to hit back in the 53rd minute.
"When you win, it's all good," smiled Nice coach Franck Haise. "We deserved the win, although if we could have spared ourselves a bit of stress at the end of the game."
Nice held on to win.
Lille climbed to fourth, two points behind second-placed Marseille and one behind Monaco. Nice moved up to sixth, two points behind Lille and trailing Lyon on goals scored. Lyon could jump to third with a big derby win against Saint-Etienne in the evening game.
The margins are narrow and the stakes high
The top three in Ligue 1 qualify automatically for the Champions League, with fourth going into the preliminary rounds. Fifth place qualifies for the Europa League and sixth for the Conference League. There will be an extra Europa League place available via the league should PSG win the French Cup final next month.
With Reims beating Toulouse 1-0, Angers slid to 15th, three points above Le Havre in the first potential relegation spot.
On Saturday, Desire Doue and Goncalo Ramos scored as Paris Saint-Germain beat Le Havre 2-0 and stayed on course to complete the Ligue 1 season without losing a game.
Mason Greenwood scored twice as Marseille hammered doomed bottom club Montpellier 5-1 to retake second from Monaco, who drew 0-0 with Strasbourg.
K.Im--SG
