League 1 | Reduced to 10, Lille returns from Montpellier with a draw

Chances, cards, but no goal or winner Sunday January 28, between Montpellier and Lille. At the Mosson stadium, the two teams parted in a draw (0-0), which does not help anyone in the Ligue 1 standings. Fifteenth at the start of the match, the Héraultais will be able to want to not have taken advantage of their numerical superiority following Ayyoub Bouaddi’s red card to do better, while Lille misses the opportunity to put themselves back at the top of the table. The Mastiffs thus remain fifth.

If the supporters massed in the stands did not see a goal during the match, they will not be able to blame the teams for having closed the game. Volunteers, the two teams chained attacks, shots (12 each), but lacked precision and faced two inspired goalkeepers. Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier was particularly impeccable at the end of the first period to repel attempts from Whabi Khazri (32nd) and Joris Chotard (33rd and 39th).

While the Mastiff goalkeeper was doing wonders in his cages, one of his teammates lacked vigilance and put his team in great difficulty. Starting for the first time at 16 in the LOSC midfield, Ayyoub Bouaddi suddenly looked his age, committing two successive anti-play fouls just before the break, synonymous with a hasty return to the locker room (45th).

If the expulsion of the young midfielder could have suggested an unbridled encounter in the second act, it above all kicked off a farandole of mistakes. Much in demand, referee Hakim Ben El Hadj was one of the most visible men back on the pitch, handing out yellow cards at a frantic pace (four in five minutes per hour of play). Unfortunately for the show, the opportunities were a little rarer, even if Edon Zhegrova could have given his team victory if he had been more precise on an unopposed header (78th).

Slowing down in the standings, Lille will try to bounce back next week by hosting Clermont. For their part, the Montpellier residents will travel to Rennes.