Nabil Bentaleb scored four minutes into his first appearance since suffering a heart attack to inspire Lille to a 2-0 victory at Rennes on Sunday with his coach hailing the player's "incredible story".
The win allowed Lille to reclaim fifth place in Ligue 1 that Lyon had briefly grabbed earlier in the day by thrashing last-placed Montpellier.
Nice won 3-1 at struggling Le Havre to climb back into the top three.
Nabil Bentaleb’s amazing story 🥹🇩🇿
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 16, 2025
⚽️ May 19, 2024: Last L1 match
⚽️ June 18, 2024: Suffers cardiac arrest
⚽️ June 27, 2024: Told his career was probably over
⚽️ Feb. 12, 2025: Back to training
⚽️ Feb. 16, 2025: First match back with a goal
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME. 😍 pic.twitter.com/B6qwi0M2le
Bentaleb, a 30-year-old Algerian international midfielder, suffered a heart attack last June.
He has since been fitted with a defibrillator, club sources told AFP.
The French Football Federation medical commission on Wednesday cleared him to play.
February 16: Nabil Bentaleb's day 🇩🇿🥹 pic.twitter.com/bVkDukKeFn
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 16, 2025
He returned to the pitch after 76 minutes on Sunday night, four minutes after the hosts had been reduced to 10 men when Christopher Wooh was sent off.
Lille had bombarded Brice Samba in the Rennes goal, who had also saved a weak first half penalty by Chuba Akpom.
Story of the year. ❤️
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) February 16, 2025
Essilor’s Man of the Match. 🏆
Nabil Bentaleb. 🇩🇿 pic.twitter.com/W4QqTNypnr
But four minutes after coming on Bentaleb broke the deadlock, running in at the far post to poke home the rebound after another Samba save.
Bentaleb galloped to the sideline pointing to the coaching staff before jumping into their arms. Akpom slid home a second six minutes later.
'TERRIBLE TIMES'
"It's really an incredible story and we're all happy to experience it," said Lille coach Bruno Genesio.
"He hung on, he believed in himself, he believed in the people who took care of him.
"There were periods where we all wondered if he was going to play again or not. As time went by, we all had more and more confidence in him and in his ability to play again."
Genesio added: "Obviously, it was already a real victory for him, because he went through terrible times."
On a day when all five away teams won, Nice seized control in Le Havre through a 16th minute goal from Gaetan Laborde and an own-goal from Etienne Youte Kinkoue two minutes later.
Yassine Kechta replied for the hosts after 28 minutes. Nice fullback Melvin Bard received his second yellow card in the final minute, but substitute Sofiane Diop sealed the win for the visitors with a goal deep into added time.
Nice regained the final guaranteed Champions League slot on goal difference from Monaco, who had hammered Nantes 7-1 on Saturday.
Lyon took revenge for a home defeat earlier in the season with a 4-1 win at Montpellier.
Georges Mikautadze gave the visitors a third-minute lead. Tanguy Coulibaly levelled before the break.
Lyon dominated the second half and struck through Ernest Nuamah, Corentin Tolisso and Alexandre Lacazette, with his 15th career goal against Montpellier.
Next up Lyon host league leaders Paris Saint-Germain
"We'll be playing against the best team in the French league. We're going to prepare our strategy well, knowing that we've made good progress,' said Lyon coach Paulo Fonseca.
Strasbourg rose to seventh as they won 2-0 at Lens. The hosts were reduced to 10 men when fullback Deiver Machado was sent off in the 72nd minute.
The visitors exploited their advantage with an 81st minute goal by Dilane Bakwa and a second, in the 96th minute, by Emmanuel Emegha.
Farid El Melali scored the only goal as Angers won 1-0 at Reims.
On Saturday, Fabian Ruiz scored the only goal as PSG edged out Toulouse 1-0 to stay 10 points clear at the top of the table from Marseille, who thrashed Saint-Etienne 5-1.