David nets again but Lille held by Auxerre

Jonathan David scored his 21st Ligue 1 Uber Eats goal of the season but LOSC Lille were held to a 1-1 draw by AJ Auxerre on Saturday.
AJ Auxerre 1-1 LOSC Lille

THE MATCH

Lille desperately needed the points to keep the pressure on fourth-placed AS Monaco and to be sure of holding onto a European place ahead of Stade Rennais FC. They started brightly and hit the woodwork twice in the first half. David collected a pass from Edon Zhegrova before finding the upright from a tight angle in the 10th minute, and then Auxerre somehow survived a remarkable sequence just after the half-hour mark. Zhegrova was denied by goalkeeper Donovan Léon and David’s follow-up attempt was turned onto the post by Jubal. Zhegrova then seemed certain to convert the loose ball only to be denied by a timely block from Gideon Mensah (33’).

However, the visitors were granted the chance to take the lead from the corner that followed. Referee Stéphanie Frappart did not initially see any infringement but a VAR check confirmed a handball in the box by M’Baye Niang. David stepped up to score the penalty (36’).

This game was to be a tale of two penalties, however. Auxerre won a spot-kick of their own just before the hour mark as Youssouf M’Changama was brought down in the area by Rémy Cabella. Niang converted the penalty, sending goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier the wrong way.

The impressive Léon then made a five save from a David header in the 76th minute as Auxerre held on for a precious draw in their battle to beat the drop. That is just one defeat in 11 league outings for the Burgundy side now. They are provisionally four points clear of the drop zone. Lille will fall out of the European places if Rennes win on Sunday.

THE PLAYER: Donovan Léon

Filling in for Ionut Radu for just his second Ligue 1 appearance of the season, Léon made some key saves to ensure Auxerre held on for a draw.

THE STAT: 21

Jonathan David’s 21st league goal of the season means he is one goal behind Kylian Mbappé at the top of the scorers’ chart.