Lille claim Ligue 1 title

Lille claimed their first Ligue 1 title in 57 years as both they and nearest challengers Marseille drew this evening.

Going into their penultimate league match with a six-point cushion, they needed only not to lose at Paris St Germain, or for Marseille to fail against Valenciennes to officially be confirmed as champions.

As it was both sides of the bargain were fulfilled with a pair of 2-2 draws.

Lille twice led through Ludovic Obraniak’s fifth-minute goal and Moussa Sow’s 59th-minute strike.

PSG had equalisers from Guillaume Hoarau, who was sent off moments into the second period, and Mathieu Bodmer, but it was not enough to deny Lille.

Indeed, by the time the final whistle went they were already champions as Marseille had been denied victory by Remi Gomis’ 66th-minute equaliser.

Marseille had led after goals from Andre Ayew and Loic Remy had cancelled out Foued Kadir’s opener in a hectic four-minute period in the first half.