PARIS: A 98th-minute penalty by Jonathan David set Lille up to take the bragging rights at the home of their northern rivals RC Lens on Saturday, while Brest completed an impressive week by winning 2-1 at Reims.

David’s penalty was followed up three minutes later by a breakaway Mohamed Bayo strike to complete a stunning 2-0 win for the visitors.

The derby victory comes on the back of Lille’s 3-1 surprise defeat of Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

“It’s been more than just a great, great week,” said Lille coach Bruno Genesio.

“To go to Monaco, Madrid and Lens and take four points out of six in the league and three in Madrid, that’s extraordinary.”

The result sent Lille level on 17 points with third-placed Olympique de Marseille, while Lens’ first defeat on the season left them in fifth spot, three points behind their rivals.Earlier, two goals inside the opening 20 minutes were enough to secure a 2-1 win for Brest at sixth-placed Reims.

Brest won their fourth game of the league season to move to eighth place.

A Romain Faivre penalty in the fourth minute sent them on their way before Mama Balde doubled the lead on 18 minutes.

Joseph Okumu halved the deficit with a header one minute before the half-hour but the away team managed to hold firm for the remaining hour to claim victory.

Elsewhere, Angers escaped the relegation zone with a 4-2 home win against fellow strugglers Saint-Etienne.The result gave Angers their first win of the campaign, after being promoted back to the top flight from Ligue 2 last season. They now sit 14th in the table, level on seven points with Saint-Etienne, who are just one spot above the relegation play-off position.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2024