Lille spurned the chance to top the Ligue 1 standings during the winter break as Francois Clerc's injury-time leveller rescued a point for 10-man Nice in a thrilling 4-4 draw at Stade Metropole.
With leaders Montpellier surprisingly losing to Evian, Lille could have moved to the summit on the proviso that Paris St Germain failed to win their later kick-off at St Etienne.
The champions were on course for all three points after goals from Aurelien Chedjou, Joe Cole, Eden Hazard and Florent Balmont had them 4-3 ahead entering stoppage time, but Clerc popped up in the dying seconds to grab an equaliser that means Nice will spend the festive period above the drop zone.
Nice were more than a match for their fancied hosts, twice equalising through Renato Civelli and Franck Dja Djedje before Dja Djedje's second of the night put them 3-2 up at the break.
The dismissal of Eric Mouloungui for two yellow cards hit Nice's hopes, though, allowing Lille to surge back into the lead before Clerc popped up with his dramatic late strike.
Lille took the lead after nine minutes, Aurelien Chedjou taking aim from the edge of the area with a shot that deflected off both Larrys Mabiala and Civelli on its way past David Ospina.
The hosts' lead lasted just seven minutes before Nice hit back, Civelli rising higher than Chedjou in the box to head home David Hellebuyck's corner.
Lille retook the lead after 27 minutes thanks to a fine strike by Cole, who exchanged passes with David Rozehnal before hitting a first-time effort low into the corner.
Nice drew level after 35 minutes, Mouloungui creating the chance with a run and cross for Dja Djedje to tuck home from close range, while just before the break the Ivorian bagged his second of the night, firing in the rebound after Mouloungui saw his shot parried by Mickael Landreau.
Both sides might have added to the scoring in a bright opening to the second period, but it took the dismissal of Mouloungui to tip the balance in the hosts' favour. The frontman, who had enjoyed a superb evening, was handed his marching orders in the 71st minute after picking up his second caution for a foul on Balmont.
It took just six minutes for Lille to capitalise, Moussa Sow and Ludovic Obraniak combining to set up Hazard, who turned smartly before firing low past Ospina.
Lille took the lead on 88 minutes when Obraniak picked out Balmont, who controlled on the chest before despatching a superb half-volley beyond Ospina to seemingly set his team on course for three priceless points.
But there was still one twist to come in an incredible contest. Lille failed to deal with a corner in stoppage time and when Kevin Gomis fired back into the danger area, the ball eventually broke to Clerc who equalised with the last kick of the game.
