Lille strengthened their push for a Champions League spot with a narrow 1-0 away win over Paris FC on Sunday, keeping the Ligue 1 top-four race wide open.
Belgian forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo scored the decisive goal in the 26th minute from the penalty spot after Romain Perraud was brought down in the box. He calmly sent former Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Kevin Trapp the wrong way to secure all three points for the visitors.
The result moves fourth-placed Lille level on 57 points with third-placed Lyon, who edged Auxerre 3-2 on Saturday. Both sides now share the same goal difference, but Lille may feel confident heading into the final stretch of the season.
Their remaining fixtures appear more favourable, with matches against lower-half sides Le Havre and Auxerre still to come. Lyon, by contrast, face a tougher run-in that includes a clash with fifth-placed Rennes, who are also chasing European qualification and sit just a point behind.
In Ligue 1, the top three teams qualify automatically for the Champions League, while the fourth-placed side must go through qualifying rounds.
Elsewhere, Metz boosted their hopes of survival with a dramatic 4-4 draw away at Le Havre. Gauthier Hein was the hero for Metz, scoring twice including a late equaliser in the 85th minute, after earlier converting a penalty to keep his side in the game.
The result ensures Metz remain above the relegation zone for at least another week in a tense end to the season at both ends of the table.
