Monaco thrash Lille to keep up pressure on Paris Saint-Germain

Monaco have recorded an emphatic 4-0 win at Lille to keep up the pressure on Paris Saint-Germain at the top of the Ligue 1 table.

Radamel Falcao's brace, alongside goals by Stevan Jovetic and Rachid Ghezzal, saw the French champions see off their opponents at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy and draw level with PSG's tally of 18 points.

The breakthrough in Friday night's game came on 24 minutes after a sustained period of pressure from the hosts, with Jovetic rifling into the bottom-right corner from the edge of the area for his first goal in Ligue 1.

Fellow new arrival Ghezzal also opened his account as he arrived unmarked at the back post on the half-hour mark to fire Almamy Toure's delivery beyond Mike Maignan.

Lille were barely given a chance to mount a comeback after the restart as Falcao made sure of the points in the 48th minute, nodding home a rebound following Maignan's save from Rony Lopes.

The rout was completed in the 73rd minute when Rominigue Kouame clipped the heels of Jorge in the box to gift Leonardo Jardim's charges a penalty, which Falcao confidently put away from 12 yards.

Monaco sit second in the Ligue 1 table, with PSG's game in hand taking place on Saturday afternoon at Montpellier.