Eric Bautheac scores twice to lift Lille over Lorient in French league
PARIS (AP) — Lille continued its recovery under new coach Frederic Antonetti with a third consecutive win in the French league on Saturday, beating Lorient 3–0.
Eric Bautheac scored twice—his first goals this season—in a victory that lifted the northern club to 11th place in the standings. Djibril Sidibe completed the win with a late goal.
Lille hired Antonetti last month as a replacement for former Ivory Coast manager Herve Renard, who was sacked following a poor run.
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Bautheac headed home the opener with his first goal since joining from Nice this summer. He doubled his team's lead in the second half from close range after Lorient goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte failed to properly clear a cross from Yassine Benzia.
Runaway leader Paris Saint-Germain hosts Lyon on Sunday, while second-place Angers welcomes Bordeaux.
Also, Diego Rigonato scored a second-half equalizer from the penalty spot as Reimsextended its unbeaten run to four matches with a 1–1 draw at home against Nice, and forward Casimir Ninga scored his fifth goal in four matches for Montpellier in a 2–1 win over Guingamp.
In a crucial match in the fight against relegation, last-place Troyes again failed to secure a first win this season, drawing 1–1 with 17th-place Bastia.
Emiliano Sala’s second goal in as many games helped Nantes draw 1–1 against Toulouse.
