Lille 1-0 AS Monaco: 2025/26 Ligue 1 Match Report

Lille defeated AS Monaco by a single goal thanks to Olivier Giroud’s 2nd-half stoppage-time goal on Sunday evening. It was an intriguing game, one with energy and great intensity from both sets of players. Young players on either side shone, but it was the old-age veteran who had the last laugh.

1st Half Analysis

Lille clearly had their intentions to control the game through lots of possession whilst also creating chances by utilising width and making clever movements whilst also playing a consistently high tempo to help create pockets of space. This way of playing proved quite effective, with the likes of Ayoub Bouaddi and Hákon Arnar Haraldsson being really influential.

There was a big chance after 20 minutes where Giroud made a simple and clever run to a deeper position which created space for Haraldsson to run through freely on goal; he controlled the ball to him superbly, got it onto his right foot and when it seemed he’d put it past Hrádecký, he somehow put it well wide. That was a golden opportunity.

AS Monaco had their moments from a few high turnovers and counterattacks. On one instance, they pressed high and forced a turnover where Minamino received the ball and got round the Lille goalkeeper but he couldn’t find the back of the net. The Lille defenders did well to protect their goal in case a shot came and unfortunately for Monaco, they couldn’t capitalise on a big moment. Akliouche also had an opportunity but like the Minamino moment, he couldn’t capitalise from a good area.

2nd Half Analysis

The 2nd half followed quite a similar pattern to the 1st half. Lille having plenty of possession, moving it at a good tempo, and creating chances with passes in behind into wide channels. But they just couldn’t find a breakthrough for so much of the half and the game in general.

Monaco defended so well throughout but fell asleep for a moment in the 91st minute, where Giroud found some space in the box, he was able to turn and he fired it home off his left foot to get his first home goal as a Lille player since joining the club from LAFC.

As mentioned above, Monaco defended so well throughout. They looked well organised; they knew the triggers of when to press or when to be tightly compact. But at the top level, a split second changes everything and that happened with Giroud getting the winner. Monaco struggled to find Balogun, who seemed quite isolated up top. Some of Lille’s defending was also outstanding, which prevented them from finding a goal.

Player Ratings

Losc Lille

Berke Özer – 6/10. He had a decent performance despite not having loads to do. Done his job when required to.

Thomas Meunier – 7/10. For someone who is getting on a bit now at the age of 33, he was energetic and constantly up and down that right flank. A solid performance.

Nathan Ngoy – 7/10. It was a proactive performance; he made good tackles and some good interceptions when required to.

Alexsandro – 8/10. The Brazilian was quite simply outstanding, forming a solid partnership with Ngoy. Like his centre-back partner, he made good tackles, blocks and interceptions when required to. He also showed a great recovery pace when Monaco tried playing in behind. Brick wall display.

Romain Perraud – 7/10. He was a key part of Lille’s attacking presence down the left. Like Meunier, he was constantly up and down the flank and put in a good shift.

Ngal Ayel Mukau – 6/10. He was ok; he did his job to a good standard but nothing particularly special. Unfortunately, he was forced off after an hour due to injury.

Benjamin André – 6/10. Just like his midfield partner, it was nothing special but he performed to a good standard and did his job as the holding midfielder.

Ayoub Bouaddi – 9/10. This kid is something special, just 17 years old. He was the best player on the pitch and on a few occasions seemed like he was running the game. His movements were fluid; he covered so much ground. AS Monaco couldn’t man-mark him and restrict his influence because he was everywhere, out on the left, on the right, pushing on as an attacking midfielder, and moving deep to receive passes. An outstanding performance by an outstanding prospect.

Hákon Arnar Haraldsson – 8/10. Despite missing such a big chance in the first half, he put in a great shift and performed really well. He was everywhere across the front line, whether it be on the left, centrally playing like a second striker or support striker close to Olivier Giroud, or on the right. On a few occasions he was also dropping deep and out of possession he also worked out, tracking back and making key tackles when required to do so.

Felix Correia – 7/10. He was also a key part of Lille’s attack, along with Bouaddi and Haraldsson, behind Olivier Giroud. The fluidity in the interchanging of positions between the three of them was so good and effective. Correia was able to cause Monaco trouble in wide areas. Good performance.

Olivier Giroud – 7/10. He didn’t get a load of chances or lots of service but was really effective with what he got. Even at 38, his hold-up play and movement are as good as they have ever been. He took his chance in the 91st minute so well too. However, he did miss a penalty in the 97th minute.

AS Monaco

Lukaš Hrádecký – 6/10. It wasn’t necessarily a bad performance by the Finland International but it wasn’t great either. Whilst he made a couple of good saves and made a good pass whilst under pressure to bypass the Lille press, he looked less than convincing from a couple of crosses, and he could’ve at least attempted to make himself bigger to make it harder for Giroud to score.

Jordan Teze – 5/10. He had his moments in possession and made a couple of good tackles. But that fluid movement from Lille did cause him problems down that Monaco right-hand side.

Eric Dier – 6/10. Good blocks, good interceptions, and reads the game fairly well too. But there were a few moments where he was a little sloppy with possession where he could’ve looked after the ball better.

Christian Mawissa – 5/10. It was enjoyable seeing how aggressive he was out of possession and how proactive he was generally. But right at the end he got caught out with a ball in behind; Fernandez-Pardo was able to sprint in behind and committed a foul in the box. Fortunately for Mawissa, Giroud missed his penalty.

Caio Henrique – 6/10. He had quite a good performance from left back for Monaco. He was getting forward down that left side, creating some good opportunities. But did get caught out defensively a couple of times.

Lamine Camara – 7/10. Lille had more possession for long periods so Camara couldn’t truly show off his technical qualities with the ball. But he worked his socks off in the midfield and performed well despite defeat.

Denis Zakaria – 6/10. A simple performance from deep, nothing special. Statistically, he was the most accurate passer on the pitch.

Maghnes Akliouche – 6/10. He was a bright spark in an attacking sense for AS Monaco, particularly in the 1st half. He picked up some good positions but failed to take a big chance where, if he took it, the game may have panned out differently.

Takumi Minamino – 4/10. He couldn’t get into the game and couldn’t create anything either. Not his best night.

Aleksandr Golovin – 5/10. He tried to make things happen down the left side but it didn’t materialise in any significant chances or opportunities.

Folarin Balogun – 2/10. He just couldn’t get into the game whatsoever. He had the fewest touches of any player on the pitch (25) and looked very isolated up top.

Final Thoughts

In the end, the right team won in the end. Lille just seemed to have an edge in quality and intensity. Whilst both sides worked so hard throughout, ultimately Lille were quite simply the better side.

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Lille 1-0 AS Monaco: 2025/26 Ligue 1 Match Report

1st Half Analysis

2nd Half Analysis