Lille have maintained their European ambitions with a 1-0 victory over Brest at home in Ligue 1.

The hosts were in control of the match right from the start, with Dimitri Payet and Aurelien Chedjou coming close to opening the scoring in the first three minutes

Salomon Kalou's attempt on the Brest goal in the 12th minute went wide, before Florent Balmont headed wide to the right.

Mathieu Debuchy then tried his luck from a narrow angle but in vain, and just after the half-hour mark Kalou forced a save from Brest goalkeeper Alexis Thebaux.

Kalou eventually etched his name on the scoresheet on the stroke of half-time when he turned in Payet's delivery from the centre of the Brest penalty box.

Lille continued to be assertive in the second half, as Payet headed Debuchy's cross over the Brest crossbar in the 54th minute.

Chedjou came close with a header for the former French champions a couple of minutes later.

Tulio De Melo and Payet had good chances for the home side during the remainder of the match, as Lille bagged maximum points.