Eight months after suffering cardiac arrest in June , Algeria international Nabil Bentaleb enjoyed a dream return to Ligue 1 action as he broke the deadlock for Lille in their victory against Stade Rennais. Meanwhile, in the Premier League , Omar Marmoush delivered a statement showing -- including a minute hat-trick -- as Manchester City dispatched Newcastle United.
Last June 18, Bentaleb was enjoying a casual kickaround in a small-sided game with family and friends when he suffered a heart attack, and was subsequently placed in an induced coma. Initially, there were doubts about his longer-term health and career, with doctors at Lille University Hospital ultimately recommending that the year-old be fitted with a pacemaker to more effectively regulate his heartbeat. Despite recommendations to abandon his football career, Bentaleb remained determined to play again, and eventually he returned to full training with Lille last week.
So impressed was Lille head coach Bruno Genesio that he deemed fit to introduce the Algeria international after 76 minutes of their Ligue 1 fixture in Rennes, with the hosts down to 10 men after the 74th-minute dismissal of Cameroon 's Christopher Wooh. The centre-back was given a red card for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity by handball. Brice Samba saved the ensuing penalty -- Nigeria 's Chuba Akpom seeing a weak effort blocked -- but Genesio, nevertheless, sensed an opportunity and turned to Bentaleb, who became the first player in France to take to the field with a pacemaker.
Bentalab needed just four minutes to mark his return with a goal , beating Samba when he touched home at the back post after the Congolese stopper had parried the ball into his path from a corner. The North African marked his goal with a delirious celebration, running towards the bench and the club's medical staff to acknowledge those professionals who had supported him and helped him make his comeback.
We were up in the clouds for a while; these things are hard to explain. These are strong emotions for everyone. He never let go. He believed in himself, and he believed in the people who looked after him. Elder brother Karim Bentaleb, who intervened to administer a chest massage to Nabil in the seconds after his cardiac arrest last year, also paid tribute to the defensive midfielder.
