Nice found relief on the Mediterranean coast with a 2-1 win over Lille, ending a 326-day wait for a home league victory and reshaping the early Ligue 1 summit. The result handed Monaco sole possession of first place after five rounds, while Lille’s unbeaten opening to the campaign came to an end.
Davide Ancelotti’s Lille had previously dropped points only in a 2-2 draw against champions Paris Saint-Germain. Their trip south, however, brought a first league defeat and a fall to fourth place on 10 points. Monaco, who beat Lens 2-1 on Friday, now lead the standings with 13 points from a possible 15.
For Nice, the afternoon carried significance beyond the table. Olivier Pantaloni’s side had taken only two draws before this match and began the round at the bottom of the division. Their first championship win lifts them out of the relegation places on five points, with Axel Witsel captaining the club for the first time.
Amoura drives Nice’s breakthrough
Mohammed Amoura was at the centre of the home side’s finest moments. The Algerian forward burst down the left in the 22nd minute and delivered a cross that Lille defender Nathan Ngoy diverted past his own goalkeeper, Berke Özer.
Amoura nearly created another before the interval, supplying Elye Wahi with a precise pass in the 31st minute. Wahi struck first time, but his effort came back off the right-hand post.
Lille remained within reach until the second half, though they lost 19-year-old Nathan Mbappé to a muscle injury in the 55th minute. It was the younger brother of Kylian Mbappé’s first injury of the season, after physical problems had affected him in previous campaigns.
Second goal proves decisive
Nice doubled their advantage in the 67th minute through a flowing move. Gauthier Hein sent Amoura clear with an outside-of-the-foot long pass, and the forward rounded Özer before finishing into an empty net.
Japan international Ayase Ueda gave Lille a route back into the contest with an 79th-minute goal, but the visitors could not find an equaliser. Nice held firm to secure a first home league success since their previous such victory, which had also come against Lille.
The result sends Monaco into the new week as Ligue 1 leaders, while Lille must regroup after a promising start under Ancelotti, the son of Brazil coach and former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.
