Fonte rescues draw to maintain Lille clear at Ligue 1 summit

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Portugal centre-back Jose Fonte’s late header rescued Ligue 1 leaders Lille a 1-1 draw towards Strasbourg on Sunday which saved them two factors forward of the chasing pack as Lyon had been held by Marseille, whereas Monaco moved nearer to the highest of the desk by cruising previous Brest.

Lille prolonged their lead over second-placed Paris Saint-Germain and stayed three factors away from Lyon, who missed the prospect to maneuver inside some extent after a 1-1 draw at Marseille.

Monaco sit in fourth place, solely 4 factors off the summit.

Christophe Galtier’s Lille, bidding for a primary main trophy since profitable the league and French Cup double in 2011, are unbeaten in 9 league video games since a defeat by Angers in early January, however misplaced each legs of their Europa League last-32 tie.

“We’re dissatisfied,” Fonte instructed Canal+. “We did the whole lot within the second half, however we’ve got to create extra possibilities.

“However we did not lose… There was maybe a little bit of fatigue from the sport (on Thursday) towards Ajax, however there are not any excuses, we’ve got to do higher.

“It is a disappointment, however we proceed the struggle. It isn’t over.”

Residence workforce Lille began on the entrance foot and had a penalty enchantment waved away within the seventeenth minute after Jonathan David went down within the space, regardless of a VAR assessment.

However they fell behind 9 minutes earlier than half-time as Strasbourg striker Ludovic Ajorque volleyed dwelling.

Ajorque virtually doubled his tally two minutes later, however his header was effectively saved by Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

Sven Botman noticed a header saved out by Strasbourg’s Eiji Kawashima and David additionally fired over earlier than the break.

Two good second-half possibilities each fell to Jonathan Ikone, however the younger Lille ahead, who snapped a 10-game objective drought within the win over Lorient final weekend, noticed his low effort saved by Kawashima and a header fly over.

However Lille had been to not be denied the purpose which ensured they might finish the weekend prime, as Fonte rose highest to move dwelling Benjamin Andre’s cross with 4 minutes remaining.

– Lyon undone by controversial penalty –

Lyon had been fast out of the blocks and seemed to be on their technique to a seventh win in eight video games when Karl Toko Ekambi collected Lucas Paqueta’s cross and netted his twelfth objective of the marketing campaign.

Paqueta remained within the centre of the motion, because the Brazil midfielder conceded a penalty for handball shortly earlier than the interval, regardless of the ball showing to strike his physique earlier than rebounding onto his arm.

Arkadiusz Milik dispatched the spot-kick to assert his second objective for Marseille since becoming a member of on mortgage from Napoli in January.

The one incident of be aware in a cagey second half was when Paqueta was given a second yellow card for bringing down Dimitri Payet, having additionally been booked within the controversial penalty choice.

However seventh-placed Marseille by no means appeared like discovering a winner.

Earlier on Sunday, Monaco prolonged their unbeaten run to 12 video games with a 2-0 win over Brest.

Objectives deep into the second half from Stevan Jovetic and Kevin Volland sealed the Principality membership’s ninth win from their final 10 outings.

At Monaco’s Stade Louis II, Brest goalkeeper Gautier Larsonneur had saved the guests within the hunt, particularly when denying Wissam Ben Yedder from the penalty spot after half an hour.

However he was lastly overwhelmed by Jovetic within the seventy fifth minute, with German ahead Volland cementing the three factors within the ultimate minute.

Monaco at the moment are 14 factors away from fifth-placed Metz, however coach Niko Kovac remains to be targeted on securing fourth, which supplies a Europa League spot.

“The highest three? Sure, it is taboo,” he stated. “When we’ve got sufficient factors to make sure the fourth place, we’ll discuss it (prime three).”

PSG bounced again from their 2-0 loss to Monaco on the Parc des Princes with a Kylian Mbappe-inspired 4-0 victory over last-placed Dijon on Saturday.

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