Jean Makoun`s first-half goal was enough to hand Lille a 1-0 victory over Rennes in the first game of the Ligue 1 season.
The Cameroon midfielder reacted fastest to divert Hicham Aboucherouane`s free-kick past Rennes goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson.
Rennes` Swiss forward Alexander Frei had a golden opportunity to grab an unlikely draw late in stoppage time but Tony Sylva produced an expert save to secure three points for the home side.
Frei produced the first opportunity of the match, forcing a clearance from Lille`s Mathieu Chalme.
The home side then began to find their rhythm and when Mathieu Bodmer was fouled, Aboucherouane wasted a chance to penalise Rennes with the free-kick.
Rennes failed to retain possession of the ball as the game descended at times into a long-ball affair.
But the ever-dangerous Aboucherouane was the consistent threat for Lille, running at the
defence with the ball and looking to create openings for his side.
Daniel Gygax wasted an opportunity on the half-hour mark, blazing over the bar from within the area as Lille continued to push forward.
And the pressure paid off seven minutes before the break when Makoun shrugged off his marker to put the ball beyond Isaksson and give Claude Puel`s men a half-time lead.
Olivier Monterubio tried to fashion a way back into the game for Rennes while Makoun had another attempt on goal which failed to trouble Isaksson.
Lille substitute Peter Odemwingie had a chance to wrap up the win in added time but could only put his shot wide after Bodmer`s centre.
When Rennes` hopes of an equaliser seemed to have completely disappeared, Swiss talisman Frei had an excellent chance to rescue a point five minutes into added time, but could only watch in despair as Sylva saved his brilliant header.
