(Ligue 1 2022/2023): Highlights MONACO - LOSC LILLE

A quasi Europa League playoff as Monaco welcomed a Lille side looking to put an end to their poor away form. The hosts' fading podium hopes would extinguish almost entirely without a victory, yet Philippe Clermont likely more concerned at keeping Les Dogues at arm's length. For Paulo Fonseca's men, only a win would suffice to reel in the Principality side starting the evening with five points to make up. Yet not facing Monaco's suspended Wissam Ben Yedder or Kevin Folland, Myron Baudu once again leading the line. Well a narrow win at relegated Angers kept fourth in Monaco's hands. Only a ninth start of the season for Takumi Minamino, but after just one goal in 17 appearances, no surprise this went wide with the angle always against the Japanese international. Baudu scored the winner against SCO. It's just seven goals in 43 outings in red and white since Monaco paid 17 million euros for the 22-year-old Dutchman. Fine stop though by Luca Chevalier, the number nine would have hoped to have done better. The last meeting between the sides saw Lille edge a seven goal thriller, little risk of a repeat after the first half showing. Folland or Zac Efron with a prime view, but with three of the last six Monaco's league goalless draws at the Stade Louis-Dieu against Lille, a risk of another. Rainbow numbers and armbands worn in the elite French league's annual anti-homophobia campaign. Along the field Lille finally came to life. Remy Cabella the instigator, Timothy Weah should have been the finisher. Just as Chevalier had in the first half, terrific save with the boot by Alexander Nubel. Loss then had the best chance of the match, and it really should have been a simple tap-in for Jonathan David. The Canadian wanted a return from Jonathan Bamba. The winger elected to shoot. Fine save from Nubel, but the German really shouldn't have had a chance. Two Johnnies certainly not seeing eye to eye. Monaco failing to score in three of their last four league games as many as in the previous 45, yet in the end they were thankful to their German stopper for making sure they at least didn't lose the game. Bamba again frustrated, stretching well to head on target. Nubel in the right place at the right time. The podium dream all but over with eight points behind Marseille and just nine to play for, but Monaco at least holding on to fourth with a five-point cushion over Lille with three games to go.