Lille fall at home to Nice

Nice's impressive run of form continued with a 2-0 win at Lille which saw the visitors leapfrog Rennes into fourth place.

Nice's impressive run of form continued with a 2-0 win at Lille which saw the visitors leapfrog Rennes into fourth place. Second-half strikes from Renato Civelli and Neal Maupay under the closed roof of the Grand Stade Lille Metropole ensured that Lille's poor home record against the visitors continued, leaving the hosts without a home win over Nice since the 2006/07 season. In a lively opening Lille's Dimitri Payet turned Nolan Roux's first-time cross just wide of David Ospina's right post, before Nice captain Didier Digard saw his 35-yard lob drop just behind Steeve Elana's crossbar. Nice continued to press and Valentin Eysseric's 25-yard free-kick tested a well-positioned Elana around the 15-minute mark. Both sides continued to trade blows and the lively Payet beat two defenders on the left before delivering a fine cross which defender Nemanja Pejcinovic nearly turned into his own net. The hosts wasted a good chance to take the lead just before the break after Civelli gave the ball away allowing Payet a free run on goal, but Ospina came off his line to make a superb stop. On the hour mark Didier Digard knocked a Eric Bautheac free-kick into the path of Dario Cvitanich but the Argentinean failed to get a telling touch from a promising position, providing Steeve Elana with a straight-forward save. Payet continued to cause problems for the Nice defence and his powerful shot was pushed away by the impressive Ochoa. Marvin Martin pounced on the rebound but his effort failed to work the Mexican keeper. Ochoa's efforts paid off when his side took the lead in the 79th minute. Civelli rose above Nolan Roux inside the area to head Bautheac's free-kick beyond Elana into the top corner. The visitors did not stop there and doubled their lead with a well-worked goal five minutes from time. Valentin Eysseric and Romain Genevois combined before the latter crossed towards Maupay who smashed a right-footed shot beyond Elana to earn Nice a third consecutive league win without reply.