Lille loses to Brest and remains stuck in eighth place before receiving PSG

Weighed down by an entry goal and lacking success, Lille recorded their first defeat in Brest since October (2-0) in the league, Saturday January 22, and saw their rise to European places slowed down during the 22^and Ligue 1 day.

They had been brave at 10 against 11 in Marseille (1-1), effective Wednesday against Lorient (3-1) but the third match in six days will have been too much. Glued to a now fragile 8^and place (32 points), Lille have two weeks to prepare to receive Paris-Saint-Germain, the last team to beat them on October 29 – even if they lost on penalties to Lens in the Coupe de France. France.

On the other hand, Brest, which had already surprised the future champions last season (3-2 in November 2020), is recovering after its defeats against Nice (3-0) and in Paris (2-0) and goes back to a 12^and provisional place (28 points), with 11 points ahead of the relegation zone.

Lack of precision in the last passes

Lille were picked cold from the first minutes, when Ronaël Pierre-Gabriel crossed for Steve Mounié: while trying to intervene, Tiago Djalo, embarrassed by his captain José Fonte, involuntarily deceived Ivo Grbic (1-0, 3^and).

Jocelyn Gourvennec’s men, who were back on the bench after being sick with Covid-19, quickly tried to react, but without the success that had allowed them to lead 3-0 after half an hour on Wednesday against Lorient. They lacked precision in the last passes and also came up against an in-form goalkeeper: Marco Bizot thus intervened several times against Jonathan David (7^and, 45^and+1), Jonathan Bamba (67^and) and Burak Yilmaz (13^and).

The Turkish striker also saw Lilian Brassier throw himself on a goal ball (35^and) and Pierre-Gabriel narrowly clearing a well-framed header (41^and). And when he was thrown well into the depth, he did not find the frame (64^and). In the second half, the Brestois were more enterprising, but without loosening the noose in defense, to the point that gestures of frustration multiplied on the Lille side.

Lille started the accelerator in the last quarter of an hour, after the entry into play of Hatem Ben Arfa. The 34-year-old former international, who signed up for the end of the season on Wednesday but hadn’t played since May, seemed in good shape. He thus attempted a one-two with David (85^and) and a volley from the penalty spot, but not powerful enough to worry Bizot. On a counter, Brest drove the point home with a penalty obtained for a tackle by Zeki Celik on Franck Honorat and converted by Mounié (90+5).