Nabil Bentaleb marked his return to football in the most dramatic fashion, scoring just four minutes into his first appearance since suffering a heart attack, as Lille secured a 2-0 victory over Rennes on Sunday. His inspiring moment was hailed as an "incredible story" by his coach, Bruno Genesio.
The win saw Lille reclaim fifth place in Ligue 1, briefly occupied by Lyon earlier in the day following their emphatic 4-1 victory over Montpellier. Meanwhile, Nice climbed back into the top three with a 3-1 win at Le Havre.
A Triumphant Return
Bentaleb, a 30-year-old Algerian international, suffered a heart attack in June and has since been fitted with a defibrillator, club sources confirmed. After receiving medical clearance from the French Football Federation on Wednesday, he made his highly anticipated return to the pitch in the 76th minute.
Just four minutes later, he was in the right place at the right time, slotting home a rebound to give Lille the lead. The emotional moment saw him sprint to the sideline, pointing toward the coaching staff before leaping into their arms in celebration. Chuba Akpom then sealed the victory six minutes later with Lille’s second goal.
"A True Fighter"
Lille coach Bruno Genesio praised Bentaleb’s resilience:
"It’s truly an incredible story. He held on, believed in himself, and trusted the people who helped him. There were moments when we all wondered if he would ever play again. But with time, we gained confidence, and so did he."
Genesio acknowledged the immense challenges Bentaleb overcame, calling his return "already a victory", regardless of the result.
Elsewhere in Ligue 1
- Nice Back in Top ThreeNice took control early against Le Havre, with Gaëtan Laborde opening the scoring in the 16th minute before an own goal from Étienne Youte Kinkoue doubled their lead two minutes later. Although Yassine Kechta pulled one back for the hosts, substitute Sofiane Diop sealed a 3-1 win deep into stoppage time. Nice now edge ahead of Monaco into third place on goal difference.
- Lyon’s Revenge on MontpellierAfter suffering a home defeat to Montpellier earlier this season, Lyon responded in style with a dominant 4-1 away victory. Georges Mikautadze opened the scoring early, but Tanguy Coulibaly equalized before halftime. In the second half, Lyon took control with goals from Ernest Nuamah, Corentin Tolisso, and Alexandre Lacazette, who netted his 15th career goal against Montpellier.Next up, Lyon faces league leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Coach Paulo Fonseca acknowledged the challenge ahead: "We’ll be facing the best team in France. We need to prepare well, but we’re making good progress."
- Strasbourg, Angers Secure Important WinsStrasbourg climbed to seventh with a 2-0 win at Lens, capitalizing on a red card for Deiver Machado in the 72nd minute. Goals from Dilane Bakwa (81') and Emmanuel Emegha (96') sealed the victory.Meanwhile, Farid El Melali’s solitary goal earned Angers a 1-0 win at Reims.
PSG Stays on Top
On Saturday, Fabian Ruiz scored the only goal in PSG’s 1-0 victory over Toulouse, maintaining their 10-point lead at the top of the table. Marseille kept pace with a 5-1 thrashing of Saint-Étienne.
Bentaleb’s incredible return adds another special moment to an eventful weekend in Ligue 1, proving that football can produce truly inspiring stories.