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Nigerian striker Chuba Akpom continued his fine form, scoring in back-to-back games as Lille secured a much-needed 2-0 win over Rennes at Roazhon Park on Sunday, Footynaija.com reports.
The 28-year-old, making his first league start for the club, endured a frustrating first half after seeing his penalty saved by Rennes goalkeeper Brice Samba just before the break.
However, he remained persistent and played a decisive role in Lille’s second-half dominance.
Lille came into the match under mounting pressure following a shock French Cup exit to Dunkerque and a disappointing home league defeat to Le Havre.
Manager Bruno Genesio was desperate for a response, and his side delivered with a disciplined performance against a Rennes team reduced to ten men late on.
BRICE SAMBA SAVES CHUBA AKPOM’S PENALTY pic.twitter.com/hSVDBajqSL
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 16, 2025
Akpom thought he had put Lille ahead in the 67th minute, only for VAR to rule his goal offside.
Minutes later, the former Arsenal striker was at the heart of another key moment, drawing a foul from Christopher Wooh that resulted in the Rennes defender receiving a straight red card.
With the numerical advantage, Lille pressed forward and found the breakthrough in the 80th minute, when Nabil Bentaleb rifled home from the edge of the box.
Akpom then made amends for his earlier penalty miss, finishing clinically in stoppage time to seal the victory.
The win lifts Lille to fifth in Ligue 1 with 40 points from 22 matches, keeping them firmly in contention for a European place. They will now turn their focus to a crucial home clash against Monaco on February 22, hoping to build on this momentum.
