Lille and Evian TG met at Stade Pierre Mauroy on Tuesday night with the chance to close the gap on the European spots.
Both sides went into this match with momentum on their side, after Les Dogues won 2-0 at Sochaux on Saturday, and Les Roses fought from two goals down to draw with Montpellier HSC.
However, it was Lille who came out on top with a convincing win at home.
Read how it all unfolded in our live commentary below.
Good evening and welcome to part one of Sports Mole's Ligue 1 Tuesday night double header, where Lille host Evian TG at Stade Pierre Mauroy.
I'll bring you action from Marseille vs. Saint-Etienne later on tonight, but for now, we have what should be a very competitive match between two sides with European ambitions.
Lille, the 2011 champions, are desperate to put themselves back on the continental stage this season after narrowly missing out on the Europa League last term. Meanwhile, Evian only just avoided relegation to Ligue 2 in the last campaign, but have surprised everyone with their great start to the season. Both these sides are looking up the table at this present time.
While tonight's hosts Lille will be favourites on paper, it doesn't always pan out that way. Les Roses caused an upset at Stade Pierre Mauroy in this fixture last year, by securing a 2-1 victory at the expense of Les Dogues. The visitors will be hoping for more of the same tonight.
Right, let's bring you the team news.
LILLE XI: Enyeama, Basa, Beria, Kjaer, Sidibe, Balmont, Gueye, Martin, Meite, Kalou, Roux
Lille boss Rene Girard has opted to make three changes to the side that beat basement club Sochaux 2-0 on Saturday night.
David Rozenhal, Pape Souare and Antonio Mavuba have all dropped to the bench, while Simon Kjaer, Djibril Sidibe and Soualiho Meite all come into the team.
LILLE BENCH: Elana, Rozenhal, Souare, Delaplace, Mavuba, Rodelin, Ruix
And now onto the away team.
EVIAN TG XI: Hansen, Cambon, Djadjedje, Mensah, Mongongu, Sabaly, Wass, Sorlin, Berigaud, Bertoglio, Sougou
Evian head coach Pascal Dupraz has chosen to make four alterations to the team that fought back and drew with Montpellier HSC at the weekend.
Jonathan Laquait, Cedric Barbosa, Djakaridja Kone and Nicolas Benezet all drop out of the starting XI, while Jesper Hansen, Cedric Cambon, Facundo Bertoglio and Pape Amodou Sougou come back in.
EVIAN TG BENCH: Laquait, Angoula, Barbosa, Benezet, Kone, Escobar, Nistor
These two sides both boast an in-form striker. Lille's Nolan Roux netted both his team's goals at the weekend, while Kevin Berigaud is the joint-top scorer in the division with give goals.
The two teams are out at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, and currently exchanging handshakes.
Lille are wearing their home kit of red shits, navy shorts and navy socks, while Evian are donning their traditional pink shirts with white shorts and socks. No kit clash apparently.
KICK OFF! Lille, playing from left to right, get the game underway.
Evian come forward with Berigaud before he lays it to Mensah on the right. He beats his man before putting a cross into the box, but Lille can clear.
Kalou is brought down as he goes through on the left. He wants a penalty, but the referee awards a free kick on the edge of the box.
OFF THE BAR! Lille so close to an opener here and the free kick is curled in from the left to the edge of the six-yard area were Kjaer has got his head to it. However, he can only flick it onto the top of the bar from close range. So close.
The match has been fair even so far. Lille have rattled the crossbar, but Evian are playing some nice passing football. This has the makings of a very entertaining fixture.
GOAL! Lille 1-0 Evian TG (Salomon Kalou)
Having threatened from their last free kick in this position, Lille have gone one better and scored this time. Martin floats the cross in, which is headed away by Evian. It lands at the feet of Balmont on the edge of the box on the right, who looks to be dragging his shot across the face of goal. However, Kalou helps the shot on with a brilliant flick in between his own legs which falls into the back of the net. Great skill from the former Chelsea man.
Lille will have to still be careful, they took the lead in this fixture last season and it was Evian who walked away with the three points.
CHANCE! Evian should be level as the low cross comes in from the right to Bertoglio on the edge of the six-yard box at the near post. However, he tries to wrongfoot Enyeama, but puts it wide of the post. He got that one wrong.
CHANCE! Lille hit Evian on the break, and the ball finds the feet of Djibril Sidibe on the edge of the box. He gets a left-footed shot away, but it's comfortable for Hansen in goal.
Decent opening 20 minutes of football. Lille will be very happy with their opener, but Evian have shown a lot of encouraging signs.
Martin receives a talking to from the referee after cutting down Djadjedje from behind. No card though.
Kevin Berigaud also gets a telling off from the man in the middle, after he caught Beria late on the foot.
Lille are starting to control the possession a bit more now, but are yet to do anything meaningful with it.
YELLOW CARD Simon Kjaer is the first man into the referee's notebook tonight after sliding in on Bertoglio and getting none of the ball.
Cambon defends well up against Roux and knocks the ball behind on the run for a Lille corner.
GOAL! Lille 2-0 Evian TG (Nolan Roux)
On second inspection, this is a definite own goal from Jesper Hansen. Balmont races onto a pass down the right and just manages to keep it in play with a first-time cross as the byline. He cross spins into the path of Roux who heads the ball against the underside of the bar. However, it cannons off the frame of the goal, hits the back of Hansen, and rolls into the back of the net. Massively unlucky for the keeper.
Massive air of fortune about that second goal, but Lille won't care. They are firmly in control now, and Evian have a lot to do if they are to come back from this deficit.
YELLOW CARD Bertoglio is shown a yellow for a late sliding challenge.
Roux has a run down the left and fancies an effort on goal, but he skews it high over the bar.
Now Balmont fancies a crack for Lille. He picks up the ball outside the box on the right and gets his foot through it, but sends it high and wide.
There has been a very good atmosphere at the Stade Pierre Mauroy so far today, and it isn't particularly hard to see why. Lille are looking comfortable at the moment.
CHANCE! Lille should have sealed the match here. Meite puts in a great cross from the left which is just over the head of Kalou but met at the far post by Roux. Hansen makes the save with his legs before it goes straight back to Roux, but he hits it wide from all over five yards out and looks gutted.
HALF TIME: Lille 2-0 Evian TG
So Lille in complete control at the moment. It was an even game at 0-0, but goals from Kalou and an own goal from Hansen has put the hosts in command.
Here are the half-time stats.
Match statistics:
Lille:
Shots 8
On target 3
Possession 57%
Corners 1
Fouls 6
Evian TG:
Shots 1
On target 0
Possession 43%
Corners 0
Fouls 10
Lille are making their way back onto the field.
Are Evian are now back out.
EVIAN TG CHANGE Cedric Barbosa is on in place of Daniel Wass at the break.
KICK OFF! Evian, kicking from left to right, get the second half underway.
A lot to do for Evian in this half, but they managed to get a draw from being two goals down at the weekend.
Not a lot to bring you at the start of this second half. A couple of corners apiece, but nothing close.
CHANCE! Lille have a corner on the left which is curved to the far post by Martin. Kjaer is free at the back, and should do better, but can only head wide as he back peddles to reach it.
Evian have a free kick on the right, and have sent the big men forward from the back.
It goes right the way through and out for a throw, but they have since been awarded another free kick, this time in a shooting position to the right of center.
This dead ball also comes to nothing, as Barbosa cuts it past the post. Evian need to be making the most of these set-pieces.
Evian are preparing to bring on Benezet.
EVIAN TG CHANGE Top scorer Kevin Berigaud has been sacrificed for Nicolas Benezet.
LILLE CHANGE Meite has been brought off, with Rio Mavuba coming on.
YELLOW CARD Cambon is booked for a late challenge.
Neither side has really got control of this half yet, with no real chances so far.
Kjaer is currently down receiving treatment after bouncing off his own teammate Sidibe.
Kjaer is back to his feet but seems a little dazed and confused. He looks ok to carry one though.
Evian have another free kick in a promising crossing position, but they again make it far too easy for Lille, who can head clear.
Another free kick for Evian out on the left touchline, a lot of bodies forward.
It's yet another dreadful delivery from Barbosa, who scuffs it along the floor for the cross to be cleared by the first man.
EVIAN TG CHANGE Sougou is the final man to be replaced, with Nistor coming on.
LILLE CHANGE Nolan Roux is swapped for Rodelin.
GOAL! Lille 3-0 Evian TG (Ronny Rodelin)
Game, set and match at Stade Pierre Mauroy. Mensah tries to head the a long ball clear for Evian, but ends up knocking it behind him. Rodelin runs onto it and slots past the onrushing Hansen. He's only just come on and already has a goal.
Lille fans are enjoying a poznan at the moment, and why not. They have the points in the bag.
CHANCE! Rodelin brings a lofted pass down well 25 yards from goal, before shaping his body and unleashing a low shot which heads just wide of the near post.
This game has hit a lull, and it's no surprise given Lille's lead.
LILLE CHANGE Kalou makes his way off the field, with Ruiz heading on.
Still no chances, this game is as good as over.
We will have three minutes of added time.
FULL TIME: Lille 3-0 Evian TG
Well that's it. Lille move up to second ahead of the game which I have to dash off to. Stick with me for Marseille vs. Saint-Etienne next.