Lille OSC 0 - 1 Monaco - Berbatov nets Monaco winner

Posted Sunday, January 25, 2015 by PA

Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal as Monaco extended their Ligue 1 unbeaten run to six matches with a 1-0 win over Lille.

The Bulgarian struck in the 57th minute as Leonardo Jardim's men made it six clean sheets in a row in the league.

Lille meanwhile slipped to a second consecutive defeat after their recent good form had moved them away from the relegation zone.

The home side had the first chance as Nolan Roux freed Franck Beria on the left but his shot took a deflection off Joao Moutinho and looped over the bar.

That was the only action of an uninspiring start but Danijel Subasic got Monaco out of jail just after the half hour as Florent Balmont's free-kick found David Rozehnal who saw his volley spectacularly saved by the goalkeeper.

Nabil Dirar curled an effort wide as the interval approached but neither side could break the deadlock before half-time.

Berbatov managed it 12 minutes after, though, as he headed home Yannick Carrasco's free-kick to make it 1-0.

Two minutes later, Moutinho should have doubled the lead as Fabinho and Bernardo Silva combined to send the Portuguese free but he missed the target from close range.

And the 28-year-old had another opportunity in the 65th minute with a free-kick but Vincent Enyeama was equal to it.

Monaco were totally dominant now and Berbatov nearly had a second when he volleyed wide after more good work from Silva and Fabinho but the team from the Principality could not add to their lead.