Lille move level at Ligue 1 summit after comfortable Troyes win

Davide Ancelotti’s side came into the weekend with the chance to go top, but their mood had been checked by a disappointing Champions League defeat to Real Betis in midweek. They responded well at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, dominating possession against a Troyes team still bruised by last week’s 6-2 loss to Strasbourg.

Match highlight

Lille thought they had taken the lead after only two minutes. Dilane Bakwa struck the post and the rebound fell to Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, who tapped into an empty net. VAR then ruled the goal out for an extremely tight offside.

That setback did not change the flow of the game. Lille kept the ball, moved it patiently and repeatedly found space around Troyes’ penalty area.

Their breakthrough arrived through Tiago Santos. Bakwa fed the right-back just outside the box, and Santos curled a fine shot beyond Patrick Beach into the left corner.

Lille believed they had a second only three minutes later. Basar Onal sent a low cross into the area, and Michel Diaz appeared to turn the ball into his own net. The flag went up, however, with a Lille player offside in the move.

Troyes offered little before the interval. They managed four attempts, all off target, and were fortunate to go into half-time only one goal behind.

Stephane Dumont’s team showed more purpose after the break. Anis Ouzenadji was involved in several promising moves down the left, and Lille had to absorb some early second-half pressure. Troyes could not turn that spell into a clear chance.

Ancelotti then changed his attack, bringing on Olivier Giroud, Gaetan Perrin and Ethan Mbappe. Mbappe had been sent off against Real Betis only four days earlier, but he was available for this league match.

The substitutions gave Lille fresh energy. Perrin almost scored soon after coming on when Maurits Kjaergaard played him through, but Beach reacted quickly and smothered the chance before Perrin could make contact.

Lille continued to control the final stages without adding the goal that would settle the match. That changed in the 93rd minute. Mbappe scored his first goal of the season to make the result safe and secure Lille’s first home victory of the campaign.

The scoreline was fair. Lille had the better of the ball and the clearer moments, even if Troyes defended more stubbornly than they had against Strasbourg. Dumont can take some encouragement from the way his side stayed in the match for long periods, but they lacked the attacking threat to trouble Lille often enough.

Lille go into the next round level with Monaco and Rennes at the top. The win also gives Ancelotti’s team a needed lift after their difficult European night.