Chuba Akpom’s late penalty was not enough to secure Lille a place in Ligue 1’s top four despite a 2-1 victory over Reims, who avoided dropping into the relegation play-off place by the skin of their teeth thanks to results elsewhere.
The outcome of this match had huge implications for both teams, as the hosts strived for a UEFA Champions League place, while their opponents knew defeat could plunge them into the bottom three.
Unsurprisingly given their position in the table, it was Les Dogues who made the better start, although some wayward finishing meant they only hit the target once in the opening 30 minutes, when Thomas Meunier’s effort was comfortably saved.
Aside from that, Remy Cabella fired wide, while Matias Fernandez-Pardo was among a string of players to have shots blocked away, audaciously trying to score from 30 yards out after a mistake by goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf.
Samba Diawara’s side were more reserved and their only real chance was an easily-stopped Amadou Koné’s daisy cutter, before, seconds later, Hákon Haraldsson had a fizzing 22-yard strike palmed away at the other end.
Bruno Genesio’s men were beginning to dominate by that point, and they deservedly took the lead through an outrageous Cabella finish shortly before half-time.
Key stats from the matchOpta by StatsPerform
Meunier’s deflected strike looped up to the 35-year-old, who was playing his last game for the club, and he spectacularly sent a back-heeled volley into the bottom corner from a tight angle.
Reims were fearing for their top flight future at that point, but an equaliser soon calmed visiting nerves.
The goal was even better than the opener, as the ball dropped to Sergio Akieme in the area and he fired home a thunderous volley that rattled the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line.
Lille needed a response, which was almost delivered by Meunier’s hooked strike that was well saved.
Les Rouges et Blancs were generally sturdy defensively though, surprisingly so for a team who had won one of their last 10 away league games.
That resistance was tested the longer proceedings wore on, with the hosts throwing more and more men forward in order to find a winner.
Alexsandro sent one header over, before a rash Joseph Okumu shove on Akpom resulted in a penalty, which the striker duly converted by sending Diouf the wrong way.
As such, Les Dogues secured fifth place in Ligue 1 and will be playing in the UEFA Europa League next season, meaning they have qualified for Europe in three successive seasons.
Reims saw John Patrick desperately head wide in injury time, but they still finished 15th by virtue of Le Havre’s failure to beat Strasbourg.