# Round 17 in Ligue 1: Lille Triumphs Over Nantes with Goals from David and Bentaleb
In a thrilling encounter at the Stade Jean-Louis Étienne, Lille secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Nantes in Round 17 of Ligue 1. The match, which saw both teams push for a win, was a display of attacking intent and defensive resilience.
## A Tight First Half
The game began with both sides probing for an early goal. Lille’s forward line, led by the dynamic Jonathan David, wasted no time in making an impact. David opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a clinical finish, slotting the ball into the bottom-left corner after a well-executed counter-attack. Nantes responded swiftly, with Gaëtan Laborde testing Lille’s goalkeeper with a powerful strike from outside the box.
Just before halftime, Lille’s midfield maestro, Jonathan Bentaleb, rose highest to head home a perfectly-timed corner kick delivered by Luiz Araujo. The goal extended Lille’s lead to 2-0, much to the delight of their fans. Nantes, however, refused to back down, and striker Terem Moffi pulled one back for the visitors with a well-placed shot just before the interval.
## Lille’s Second-Half Dominance
The second half saw Lille dominate possession and maintain their defensive solidity. Despite Nantes’ efforts to press, Lille’s backline remained compact, limiting the visitors to few clear chances. Key moments included Nantes’ striker Armand Traoré being denied by Lille’s goalkeeper and Moffi firing wide from a good position.
Lille’s ability to control the tempo of the game was evident, and they capitalized on a defensive error by Nantes in the 68th minute. Araujo broke through the middle and played in David, who curled a shot into the top-right corner. Despite the lead, Nantes continued to push forward, with Laborde testing the opposition again.
## Post-Match Reactions
After the final whistle, Lille’s players celebrated their hard-earned victory, while Nantes’ players reflected on what might have been. Manager of the match, Lille’s Patricia Bedardi, praised her side’s resilience and attacking efficiency. She said, “We played well as a team, and the goals from David and Bentaleb were crucial. We needed to maintain our concentration, and we did that.”
Nantes’ head coach, Antoine Merlin, admitted, “We fought hard, but we didn’t create enough chances. Lille’s defense was solid, and we need to learn from this. We’ll bounce back in the next games.”
## Looking Ahead
With this victory, Lille climbs to fourth place in the table, while Nantes drop to seventh. Both teams will face tough opponents in their next matches, with Lille set to take on Montpellier and Nantes facing Marseille.
In a match full of drama and intensity, Lille’s 2-1 win over Nantes was a testament to their growing confidence and ability to handle pressure. As the season progresses, both teams will need to build on this performance to challenge for a top-half finish.