Villeneuve-d'Ascq (AFP)

Four in a row for Losc! Lille had a fourth consecutive success in the league, dominating Montpellier (2-1) thanks to a goal by Renato Sanches at the end of the match, Friday at the start of the 18th day of L1.

The Portuguese European champion, who became the most expensive rookie in Losc history at the end of August after arriving from Bayern Munich for 20 million euros, set Pierre-Mauroy Stadium on fire with a superb strike at the 84th minute.

In addition, the 22-year-old midfielder splashed the match of his talent by multiplying technical gestures and breakthroughs throughout the game.

It was Jonathan Ikoné who opened the scoring from the penalty spot shortly before half-time (40th), while Andy Delort had equalized on one of the rare occasions in Montpellier (74th).

With this ninth success of the season, Lille consolidated its third place with 31 units on the clock and temporarily returned to three lengths from Marseille, who moves to Metz on Saturday.

The MHSC, which almost brought back a miraculous point, remains blocked in the middle of the table (10th, 24 points).

From the start of the match, the Lille take control of operations and the first shot is the work of Sanches, but the ball is caught without problem by Geronimo Rulli (5th). Then it takes a superb intervention in the area of ​​veteran Vitorino Hilton to check Ikoné (18th).

Dominating, the Losc comes up against a solid Montpellier defense and struggles to create opportunities despite several overflows from Sanches or Domagoj Bradaric.

On a counter, the Dogues finally manage to obtain a penalty: in the midfield, Jonathan Bamba serves Ikoné, who extends towards Osimhen. This last file towards the goal and is struck by Rulli just after touching the ball. The referee does not hesitate and whistles a penalty, which Ikoné transforms without trembling (1-0, 40th).

- Sparkling Sanches -

In the process, Bamba strikes a powerful strike that Rulli hardly repels (41st).

The Hérault, them, gets only one opportunity during the first act, a free kick from Téji Savanier blocked by Mike Maignan (26th).

After the break, the Northerners continued their domination, like a shot just next to Ikoné (50th) and strikes on target from Sanches (59th) and Bamba (60th). Then Hilton again saved his team by stealing the ball at Sanches on a center set back from Ikoné at the penalty spot (68th).

But this lack of realism is expensive for Lille, who are surprised by Delort, who takes the second post a ball extended by Florent Mollet (1-1, 75th).

Stung to the heart, the Losc rushes to attack and on yet another rush, Sanches, sparkling, seeps into the surface and places a superb shot out of reach of the Hérault goalkeeper (2-1, 84th).

A new missed penalty, this time by Osimhen (90th) is not enough to spoil the northern party. Eliminated from the Champions League, Lille is becoming more than ever a serious candidate for the podium.

© 2019 AFP