|
Lille warmed up for their Champions’ League showdown with Villarreal by beating Saint-Etienne 2-0 on Saturday.
As Lille climb the table following their second consecutive home win, Les Verts are moving in the opposite direction. Second in the standings after their 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain a week ago, Elie Baup’s side have come unstuck in the last four days, suffering back-to-back defeats against Nancy and Lille.
They started well on Saturday and Lille ‘keeper Tony Sylva had to tip the ball over his bar after his defenders had failed to clear an early corner.
Lille’s first goalbound effort arrived on 17 minutes, Hicham Aboucherouane thundering a free kick over the bar.
Two minutes later, Moussilou was denied by Jérémie Janot, but the Lille striker did get his goal on 26 minutes thanks to a superb cross-shot. Moussilou's goal will have done his chances of starting at the Stade de France on Tuesday ahead of Peter Odemwingie no harm at all.
The visitors finished the first half on top, but they failed to apply to final touches to some good, flowing moves. Frédéric Piquionne and Julien Sablé both had efforts saved by Sylva, before Lamine Sakho shot fractionally wide on the stroke of half-time.
Saint-Etienne’s luck did not change after the break, as Piquionne hit a shot against the post immediately after the restart.
Lille struggled to produce any sustained attacking football, but scored a second goal against the run of play midway through the second half. For the second time in the game, Aboucherouane unleashed a powerful free kick but this time it was too good for Janot.
Janot then produced a good save from Abdelkader Keita in the final minutes, keeping the scoreline respectable, which is the least Saint-Etienne deserved.
|
