Jonathan David sends Lille into Champions League spots

Jonathan David (R) celebrates with Angel Gomes after scoring against Reims

Jonathan David pounced on a gift offered by Yunis Abdelhamid to slot home the sole goal as Lille bested Reims on Saturday to jump into fourth spot.

A miscued backpass from Reims captain Abdelhamid allowed Lille’s Canadian striker to race through unchallenged before slotting past Yehvann Diouf just before the hour mark and securing his side a 1-0 victory.

The win allowed Paulo Fonseca and his team to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat at Toulouse last weekend and leapfrog Nice into the fourth and final Champions League spot in the table.

Lille have struggled on the road this season and went into the break goalless against their eighth-placed hosts.

The visitors did, however, create the best chance of a close-fought first period when only a fine double save by Diouf kept the sides level.

The Reims stopper did not cover himself in glory when he pushed Edon Zhegrova’s angled strike straight to the feet of David, but he reacted superbly to foil the striker before Thibault De Smet hacked clear with the goal gaping.

David’s next big chance came on 56 minutes and this time he was clinical when the last defender fluffed his pass allowing him to intercept and sweep home past the stranded ‘keeper for the only goal of the tie.

The home side came to life more as the clock ticked down but Lucas Chevalier, in goal, and the Lille defence were able to withstand the tide and hold onto their clean sheet.

Later on Saturday, bottom-of-the-table Clermont host Jean-Louis Gasset’s Marseille, who can move up three places with a win.

nf/dmc