Lille extended their formidable unbeaten run at the Stade de La Beaujoire to 14 matches with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Nantes.
Hoping to avoid a third successive competitive encounter without scoring for the first time since September 2021, the hosts began their first home game of the new Ligue 1 campaign positively.
In the wake of a convincing 4-1 win over Auxerre in Paulo Fonseca’s maiden outing as manager, the visitors struggled to get to grips with Nantes’ forays forwards early on, with three of Les Dogues’ back four shown yellow cards before the opening drinks interval midway through the first half.
Determined to make their pressure pay dividends, Les Canaris came within inches of taking the lead in the 25th minute, when Moses Simon’s curling effort struck the post. However, the home faithful were soon celebrating as, only three minutes later, the menacing Simon venomously fired past goalkeeper Léo Jardim.
Lille, meanwhile, did not test Alban Lafont until the 34th minute, when Jonathan Bamba was denied before an alert Nantes defence shut the door on the prospect of a rebound finding the back of the net.
Looking to bring their recent troubles on the road to an end after only a solitary victory in their previous four away matches, the visitors began to flex their attacking muscles.
First, only Andrei Girotto came between Nantes and a certain tap-in, before Benjamin André’s towering header shaved the top of the crossbar. Left feeling frustrated at his side’s inability to find a way past Lafont, Fonseca got his players together during the second drinks break for a few inspirational words.
The Portuguese’s pep-talk appeared to work wonders as substitute Ismaily clinically equalised in the 76th minute following a defence-splitting one-two with Jonathan David.
Despite their best efforts, both sides were left to settle for a share of the spoils, leaving their unbeaten starts to the season intact.
Nantes 1 -1 Lille | FRANCE: LIGUE 1 – ROUND 2
