French Ligue 1 report: Bastia impress in 2-1 win over Lille

Bastia's sensational form continued as they came from a goal down to beat Lille 2-1 on Saturday.

Ghislain Printant's men made it nine Ligue 1 games without defeat as they overcame the setback of Ryan Mendes' 17th-minute opener.

Giovanni Sio replied within five minutes and then Floyd Ayite won it in the 40th as their stunning run continued.

It is a sequence that has seen them climb into the top half of the table, while Lille continue to flounder.

Coach Rene Girard has been encouraged to stand down by angry fans and another setback is unlikely to ease that situation.

His side started well, though, and were denied an opener when Alphonse Areola denied Marcos Lopes' curler.

But they did score first, Mendes on the spot to turn Franck Beria's excellent left-wing cross into a goal, getting up well to use his head.

Bastia replied straight away, Gael Danic swinging in a cross that Sio got first to at the near post, nodding in to level.

And they took the momentum of that goal to go in front before the break, Danic robbing Sofiane Boufal of possession and breaking before teeing up Ayite who did the rest.

Ryad Boudebouz nearly made it three after the break, his long-ranger saved by Vincent Enyeama, whole Danic was shut down with a volley and Guillaume Gillet spurned on the follow-up to it.

Lille woke up in the final quarter as Kevin Koubemba saw his effort cleared off the line by Sebastien Squillaci, and Areola saved from Idrissa Gueye, but Bastia had done enough.