Eden Hazard scored the equalizer and then helped create the winner with a moment of magic as defending champion Lille beat 10-man Paris Saint-Germain 2-1 on Sunday to keep alive its slim title hopes and dent PSG's chances of catching Montpellier.
Hazard canceled out Javier Pastore's second-half goal with a clinical penalty in the 71st minute and was involved in substitute Nolan Roux's winning goal in the 79th. PSG played the last 20 minutes with 10 men after Mamadou Sakho's sending off for conceding the penalty.
Montpellier now has the initiative, but third-place Lille can have a say in the title race.
With only four matches remaining, Montpellier now leads PSG by five points - and has a superior goal difference. Lille is seven points behind Montpellier, but they still have to play each other.
The match opposed Pastore, the French record signing at €42 million euros, and €32-million rated Hazard, who is one of the most sought-after talents in Europe and was again watched by scouts for Manchester United and Manchester City.
Pastore hit the crossbar with a volley midway through the first half, and the Argentine gave PSG the lead with a well-taken goal in the 48th. Hazard equalized from the penalty spot in the 71st after a clumsy mistake from Sakho.
Sakho was shown a straight red card and PSG lost all its composure as Lille poured forward.
Hazard's individual brilliance led to Roux's goal.
The ball was behind Hazard's left leg when he wrapped his right foot around and flicked the ball into the penalty area toward Brazilian striker Tulio De Melo, who nodded it back across goal for Roux to nod home.
PSG took the lead when Kevin Gameiro burst down the right and his cross was palmed away by goalkeeper Mickael Landreau, but the loose ball bounced up near the penalty spot and Pastore's looping header beat the stranded Landreau.
Lille started well and PSG goalie Salvatore Sirigu kept out an early header from Melo.
Moments after Pastore hit the bar, Hazard responded with a fizzing drive from the edge of the penalty area that bounced off the post.
Gameiro missed a great chance to make it 2-0 in the 64th when he sprinted clear and shot just wide.
But Lille was gifted a chance when Sakho slung his arm across to block Roux as he sprinted through and gave away a needless penalty.
Hazard took a short run-up and, although Sirigu guessed the right way, he failed to stop Hazard's 17th league goal of the season.
