Lille falters in bid for 5th place after draw with Angers

PARIS — Lille dropped points in its quest for a top-five place after drawing 0-0 at home to Angers in the French league on yesterday.

Led by the inspired form of highly-rated winger Sofiane Boufal, who has scored 11 league goals this season, Lille had won its previous six league games to shoot up the table.

But its players looked jaded after losing 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain in a hard-fought League Cup final last weekend, struggling to break down a gritty Angers side that kept Boufal quiet and had four players booked in the second half.

The draw leaves sixth-place Lille four points behind Saint-Etienne and Nice with only three games remaining as they battle for a Europa League spot.

Lille travels to play Saint-Etienne in the final round of matches.