A bad operation for both clubs.

With 46 points, Lille remains sixth, level on points with Rennes (5th), which travels to Auxerre on Saturday.

As for the Lyonnais, they move up to 8th place with 40 points, but remain six points from the top 5 qualifiers for Europe.

The only clear chance of the first half was Lyon.

Perfectly launched in the back of the Lille defense, Bradley Barcola collided twice with Lucas Chevalier, in particular author of a magnificent exit at the feet of the young Rhone striker (12th).

Deprived of his two central defenders and two full-backs, Paulo Fonseca had to compose an unprecedented defense, with in particular a hinge Leny Yoro-Alexsandro who had only been aligned once before, in the Coupe de France.

The meeting was packed as soon as the locker room returned.

Perfectly served by Jonathan Bamba in the Lyon area, Jonathan David deflected the ball with his toe to deceive Rémy Riou and open the scoring (46th).

The opportunities then multiplied, Lyon discovering themselves to try to equalize.

A strategy that ended up costing him dearly: slightly pushed in the back by Rayan Cherki, the Swede Gabriel Gudmundsson collapsed in the box on the hour mark. The referee immediately whistled a penalty, which was eager to transform Jonathan David with a shot close to the right post (60th).

Lille defender Alexsandro (g) ahead of Lyon striker Bradley Barcola, March 10, 2023 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq © Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP

The Mastiffs did not stay away for long.

In the 63rd minute, on receiving a hijacked ball during a mess in the Lille area, Bradley Barcola perfectly seized the opportunity to take revenge for his duel at the start of the match with Chevalier, deceiving with a powerful shot the northern doorman.

Lacazette stabbed to the quick

Laurent Blanc then tried everything for everything by bringing in his star striker Alexandre Lacazette, who has been absent through injury for a month.

But the former French international first illustrated himself negatively by causing a penalty, his right arm having diverted a free kick from Rémy Cabella.

A golden opportunity that Jonathan David converted by hitting exactly the same place as on his first penalty (79th).

This hat-trick, the first for the Canadian center-forward in Ligue 1, allows him to dethrone Kylian Mbappé at the top of the scoring charts, with 19 goals.

Stung and vengeful, Alexandre Lacazette caught up a few minutes later, reducing the gap to 3-2 with an angry header (83rd).

The joy of Jonathan David after his second goal, scored from the penalty spot, against Lyon, March 10, 2023 in Villeneuve-d'Ascq © Sameer Al-DOUMY / AFP

Then, perfectly served by Sael Kumbedi against the Lille goal, he magnificently adjusted Lucas Chevalier to equalize (89th).

Galvanized by this double, the Gones rushed in the last minutes towards the Lille cages, but no longer managed to find the fault.

Faithful to the game advocated by Paulo Fonseca, Lille also played for the win until the end.

And, after additional time, believed to be rewarded with a third penalty for a foul by Dejan Lovren on Jonathan Bamba.

Adam Ounas, who returned at the end of the match after months of absence, was about to shoot him.

Until, in extremis, the central referee Benoît Bastien decides to reconsider his decision, after consulting the video assistance.

© 2023 AFP