In a thrilling encounter at the Stade Louis II, Jonathan David and Anthony Bentaleb shone as Lille secured a hard-fought 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Nantes in Round 17 of the French Ligue 1 season.
The first half saw both sides create chances but it was Lille who took the lead early on through a clinical finish from David, who made no mistake after being played wide by the impressive Benjamin Sako. The home side continued to push for more goals, but they were thwarted by some excellent defending from Nantes.
However, it wasn't long before the visitors found themselves level thanks to a neat finish from Bentaleb, who showed great composure to slot home from close range after good work down the left flank from Eduardo Camavinga.
As the game went into injury time, it looked like extra-time might be required, but Lille pulled ahead once again through a stunning strike from David, who curled a superb shot past the goalkeeper to give his team a two-goal cushion.
Despite Nantes mounting a late comeback, it was enough for Lille to hold on for a much-needed three points, securing their place in the top half of the table and keeping their title hopes alive.
Overall, it was another strong performance from Lille, who have shown plenty of fight this season despite struggling against relegation rivals. David and Bentaleb will undoubtedly be key figures in any future victories, while Sako's pace and creativity also provide a threat going forward. With just one match remaining, Lille now look set for a comfortable finish to the campaign, with a potential spot in the Europa League up for grabs next term.