(Ligue 1 2023/2024): Highlights LOSC - MONTPELLIER

Lille were aiming to return to winning ways when they welcomed Montpellier to the Decathlon Arena on Sunday afternoon. The hosts suffered a heavy defeat at Lorient in their most recent domestic fixture. They had already gone some way to bouncing back with a draw during the week that saw them through to the group stages of the Europa Conference League. Montpellier, on the other hand, without any European football, hadn't yet had the opportunity to soften the blow. Their 3-1 loss at home to France last time out, they would instead suffer another blow here, falling behind in just the second minute. Yusuf Yazici whipping a free kick to the far post and somehow the ball travelling undeflected through a crowd of players, ultimately all the way into the net via said far post. It would have become the first Lille player to score from a direct free kick in the league since compatriot Virik Yilmaz in 2021. The shock of the early goal clearly affected Montpellier and they had goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte to thank for preventing Jonathan David doubling the lead, not just once, but twice The first, David perhaps would have been disappointed with his finish, the second, purely brilliant reactions from the shot stopper. And on the other end, the Chevalier was also called into action, a long-range effort, well held by the keeper. So lost with the one-goal advantage at the halfway point, Lille were unbeaten in their previous ten top-flight games against Montpellier, won the most recent four of those, so surely confident heading into the second half, but Montpellier came out the different side. Chevalier was truly tested for the first time by a long-range Teji Savaniye free kick, well struck by Montpellier's talisman, keeper equal to it. And after one close call, Thiago Santos, close to doubling the lead, in fact clipping the outside of the post, returned to one-way traffic as Montpellier pushed for an equaliser. Moussa Al-Tamari taking matters into his own hands, twisting and turning to beat Gabriel Goodmanson. Impressive, Chevalier once again in the way. And Gordon Winger would have another go, but this time another from long range, for Chevalier to hurry away to safety. Just like David, it wasn't to be a goal in a third consecutive league game. Lafayette did eventually find a way past Chevalier. Arnaud Nourdan's shot deflected in by Benjamin André, however VAR would have the final say. Kelvin Yeboah judged to be offside, affecting play when the shot was taken. And that would be that on final claim by the keeper, Montpellier's three-game winning run away from home comes to an end, whilst the win for Lille moves them into the top five.