Goals from Gervinho and Moussa Sow saw Lille maintain their one-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 with a routine 2-0 win over struggling Nice at the Stade Municipal du Ray. The league leaders were always in control of the contest but it took goals either side of the half-time interval to sink their hosts, who now lie just three points above the drop zone.

"We played a strong attacking game and we had 25 shots on target which isn't bad for an away team," said Lille coach Rudy Garcia.

Belgian star Eden Hazard was in fantastic form for the visitors. He had the first effort on goal in the fourth minute as he fired in an effort from the left side of the area, but it was well blocked by Nice goalkeeper David Ospina.

Ospina denied Hazard again soon after, but he was beaten in the 20th minute by Frank Beria's shot, only for the effort to role just wide of the left-hand post.

We played a strong attacking game and we had 25 shots on target which isn't bad for an away team.
Rudi Garcia, Lille coach

Yohan Cabaye played Gervinho in on the half-hour mark but Ospina again did well to keep the scores level. But he could not prevent the visitors taking a 44th-minute lead. Hazard's ball across the face of goal was deflected in by the heel of Gervinho.

That lead was extended five minutes into the second stanza as Hazard's defence-splitting pass allowed Sow to fire past Ospina. Ospina made an unbelievable save to deny Sow a second in the 69th minute, keeping out a fierce close-range volley after more good work by Hazard.

Another Ospina save then denied Gervinho his double before Anthony Mounier wasted Nice's only genuine chance by lashing into the side-netting late on.