Three and a half months after its last defeat, in all competitions (2-0 against Sporting, September 17 in the Champions League), Lille continued its series of invincibility. Traveling this Sunday to Montpellier, Bruno Genesio’s men shared the points with their hosts (2-2). The meeting took place in a particularly tense atmosphere in the second half, with several expulsions resulting.
If the people of Lille thought they would spend a quiet afternoon in Hérault, they were surely disappointed. Although last in the Ligue 1 standings, the Montpellier residents did their utmost to upset their opponents. So, when Jonathan David opened the scoring from the penalty spot (0-1, 44th), Issiaga Sylla responded immediately (1-1, 45th+2). Played in a decent atmosphere, the first period did not really predict what was going to happen in the second act.
Pitiful spectacle at the end of the game
Following a foul by Joris Chotard on Rémy Cabella in the 52nd minute, tempers began to heat up. And the cards rained down, while Jonathan David converted his second penalty of the day following this collision (1-2, 54th). Thirty minutes later, Jean-Louis Gasset lost his composure following a decision by the referee. As a result, the MHSC coach was sent to the stands. And the minutes continued to pass, until this crazy additional time of fifteen minutes, due to the time spent waiting for the second Lille penalty.
In a crazy atmosphere, Arnaud Nordin managed to equalize for the locals (2-2, 90th+3). Then Tanguy Coulibaly, who entered at the end of the game, returned to the locker room with a direct red card in his bag after having kicked the ball towards Bruno Génésio (90th + 9). In the middle of a general melee, Mitchel Bakker, on the substitutes’ bench, was also sent off. A dismal spectacle which ended with a sharing of points (2-2). In the provisional ranking, Lille remains fourth and Montpellier dead last.
