LILLE: Jonathon David’s brace and an assist inspired Lille to a 3-1 win over Auxerre on Sunday to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

The win moved Lille’s provisionally up to fourth place with 53 points, one behind AS Monaco.

The top three sides in France earn an automatic place into Europe’s elite club competition, while the side in fourth enters qualifying.

Thomas Meunier gave Lille an early lead after being found by David, who then netted late in the first half with a clinical first-time effort.

After an own-goal from Brazilian defender Alexsandro made it 2-1, David ran through deep into injury time and held off defenders before grabbing his 16th league goal.

Lille’s win was soured by a freakish injury to goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier, who was accidentally bumped into by Alexsandro when the defender scored the own-goal.

“He has two or three broken teeth,” Lille coach Bruno Genesio said. “He was angry about it and I can understand. He’ll go to the dentist this week.”

Meanwhile, Nice recorded a 2-1 home win over Angers to move up to sixth place and remains in contention to qualify directly for the Champions League.

Coach Franck Haise’s side is three points behind Monaco in third spot.

Pablo Rosario and defender Ali Abdi were on target for Nice, before Yassine Belkhdim halved the deficit for Angers.

Elsewhere, Reims edged Toulouse 1-0 as Jordan Siebatcheu scored the only goal of the match and helped his side move further away from the relegation zone.

Siebatcheu’s goal came soon after countryman Mark McKenzie was sent off. The Toulouse defender was shown a straight red card in the 27th minute for fouling Aurélio Buta.

Siebatcheu netted 12 minutes later with a looping header for Reims, which improved to 13th place.

Sunday’s other game saw RC Lens recording a 3-1 win against Brest to climb above its rival and into eighth spot.

In Saturday’s late fixture, Mason Greenwood scored twice as Olympique de Marseille hammered doomed bottom club Montpellier 5-1 to retake second place from Monaco, who drew 0-0 with Strasbourg earlier.

Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille were under pressure after a run of five defeats in their previous seven games had threatened to derail their bid for Champions League qualification.

But they had few problems at home to a Montpellier side who have now lost 11 straight matches and are certain to be relegated.

Greenwood opened the scoring from the penalty spot and his brace means he now has 18 Ligue 1 goals this season, a tally bettered only by PSG’s Ousmane Dembele, on 21.

A Wilfried Ndollo Bille own goal, and further strikes by Jonathan Rowe and Adrien Rabiot, completed Marseille’s victory at the Velodrome, leaving them a point ahead of Monaco.

The principality side’s draw with Strasbourg keeps them three points ahead of their opponents, who are fifth.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2025