The defending champion Lille beats Lorient, Strasbourg passes 4th
LILLE, France (AP) — Defending champion Lille extended their unbeaten streak to nine matches with a 3-1 victory over Lorient in their rescheduled French league game on Wednesday.
The day Lille signed former French international Hatem Ben Arfa, the win lifted the northern side to eighth place and within seven points of second-placed Nice. Runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain are 11 points clear of Nice at the top of the standings.
In form, Strasbourg moved up to fourth place with a fifth victory in six matches. The Alsatian club won 2-0 at Clermont after Kevin Gameiro broke the deadlock just before half-time on a pass from Jean-Eudes Aholou and Cédric Hountondji scored an own goal.
After a sluggish start to the season, Lille seem to have found the right rhythm, with four wins from their last six games. Lorient, meanwhile, remained in 18th place in the relegation zone, with just three wins from 21 matches.
Lille starts strong and kills all suspense in the space of 30 minutes. Isaac Lihadji scored to put the hosts in charge before Moritz Jenz beat his own goalkeeper and Reinildo made it 3-0 by sending Renato Sanches’ free kick into the net. Lorient played better after the break and were rewarded with a consolation goal in added time.
Lille moved ahead of Montpellier in the table after the southern club were reduced to 10 men and collapsed to a 1-0 home loss to Troyes.
Also on Wednesday, Montpellier playmaker Teji Savanier was sent off around the hour mark for a reckless tackle on Oualid El Hajjam that earned him a direct red card. Midfielder Xavier Chavalerin scored the winning goal in the 74th minute with a fine left-footed volley that ended a four-game losing streak for Troyes.
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