Ligue 1

Lille seal final-day win and claim dramatic Ligue 1 triumph

Lille held their nerve on the final day to defeat Angers 2-1 and pip PSG to the title, their first in a decade.

 
10:18pm on Sunday 23rd May 2021
By
Paul Macdonald

Lille have held their nerve to claim the Ligue 1 title on the final day of the season after victory at Angers.

Goals from Jonathan David and the brilliant Burak Yilmaz proved enough to give Christoph Gaultier's side their first title in a decade and hold off the riches of PSG in the process.

Lille knew that all they had to do was match PSG's result, and despite Neymar missing a first-half penalty, an own goal and a Kylian Mbappe strike meant that the Parisiens held up their end of the bargain.

Angers 1-2 Lille: Player Ratings

But there were no nerves for Lille as David got them off to a perfect start, before winning a spot-kick which was duly converted by Yilmaz. The partnership have now netted over 30 Ligue goals this season.

Since going down 2-1 to Nimes in March, they have won six and drawn two of their last eight fixtures to keep PSG at bay.

Lille's budget is thought to be just 1/4 of what PSG spend on salaries, but due to the covid crisis will face a real challenge to keep their league-winning squad together for a tilt at the Champions League.

A number of key names have already been linked with a move away from the club and their squad may look very different at the beginning of next season.

Latest news

Serie A

Capello carries Juve back to the summit of Italian football - Serie A 2004-05

The Bianconeri would later be stripped of this Serie A title...

  • 11 hours
Ligue 1

Montpellier stun French football to claim maiden title - Ligue 1 in 2011/12

Olivier Giroud and co. put themselves on the map by winning the French top flight for the very first time

  • 12 hours
Bundesliga

When Magath guided Bayern to another Bundesliga crown - the Bundesliga in 2005/06

The Bavarian giants claimed the double in Germany, further solidifying their dominance under Felix Magath

  • 13 hours
La Liga

When Ronaldinho moved onto another level - La Liga in 2005/06

The Brazilian moved into the realm of greatness in a near-flawless season

  • 14 hours
Premier League

When Ronaldinho sent Barcelona on their journey to greatness - La Liga in 2004/05

The arrival of the Brazilian the previous year was the catalyst for a return to the top at Camp Nou

  • 15 hours
Premier League

When Man Utd blew Arsenal away to win three in a row - the Premier League in 2000/01

The Red Devils hammered their nearest rivals 6-1 during a season where everyone else trailed in their wake

  • 16 hours

Most read