Lille OSC spurned the chance to move into the Ligue 1 (L1) European qualification places after being held to a goalless draw by 10-man Bordeaux. While the defending champions are now unbeaten in seven L1 outings, they became the first side to draw a blank against ‘Les Girondins’ this season.
The early signs were not good for Bordeaux, as Lille hadn’t conceded in their previous four meetings with sides at the foot of the table. From an early set-piece, Burak Yılmaz forced a good save from Gaëtan Poussin, before Amadou Onana somehow missed the target on the rebound from just a few yards out. After that early scare, the visitors’ defence largely held firm, as Lille registered just two shots on target before the interval. David Guion’s men were dealt a setback 10 minutes prior to HT, as Enock Kwateng was given his marching orders, picking up a second yellow card for a late challenge on Jonathan Bamba.
Jocelyn Gourvennec’s men came inches away from taking the lead in the early stages of the second half, as Bamba’s effort cannoned off the post. Yılmaz was in a dangerous position for a rebound, but the ball came back too quickly for the Turkish striker, allowing Poussin to gratefully claim the ball. The agonising wait for a goal would continue for ‘Les Dogues’, as Onana’s strike on the hour mark was ruled out for offside. Just moments later, Tiago Djaló suffered the same fate as the home faithful grew ever more restless.
Poussin was becoming ever-busier as the game reached its closing stages, being forced into a fingertip stop to deny Bamba. Despite their unquestionable domination of the game, Lille were unable to find a legitimate way past a stubborn Bordeaux rearguard after Onana saw yet another goal disallowed in stoppage time. A crucial and perhaps unexpected point moved Guion’s men to within four points of the relegation play-off position, while Lille trail fifth-placed Strasbourg by a single point.
