Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score Lille’s winner against Lens in the northern French derby. His late finish gave the hosts a 1–0 victory after repeated saves by Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser. Lille had also needed Berke Özer to stop Florian Thauvin in a one-on-one before the decisive goal.
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Giroud settles the northern derby
Lille beat Lens 1–0 in the northern French derby, with substitute Olivier Giroud scoring the decisive goal late in the match. The French striker followed up a saved shot from midfielder Nabil Bentaleb to break the deadlock at Stade Pierre Mauroy in Lille. Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser had repeatedly denied the hosts before Giroud finally found a way through.[1], [2]
The goal arrived in the 87th minute, according to Lille’s match report. Bentaleb struck from 25 metres, Risser pushed the ball back into play and Giroud finished with his left foot. Lille’s victory came after a goalless first half. Coach Davide Ancelotti had brought Giroud and winger Dilane Bakwa on together during the second half as the hosts sought the breakthrough.[1]
Risser keeps Lille waiting
Lille had threatened well before the winner. Ethan Mbappé cut inside from the right but shot off target, and Risser saved Soriba Diaoune’s close-range header from Bentaleb’s delivery. Diaoune then tested the goalkeeper directly from a corner and struck the crossbar in the ensuing sequence. At the other end, Berke Özer turned away a Lens effort from a narrow angle before the break.[1]
The pattern continued after half-time, with Risser stopping Mbappé twice as Lille pressed. Lens also had a clear chance: forward Florian Thauvin broke through one-on-one in the 58th minute, only for Özer to save. Risser then denied Hákon Haraldsson from a tight angle. Giroud himself headed wide from Calvin Verdonk’s cross before converting the later rebound that decided the derby.[1]
Lille turn next to Europe
The hosts played in front of 45,632 spectators in the ninth round of France’s Ligue 1. Ancelotti had been without injured forwards Hamza Igamane and Ayase Ueda, as well as injured defender Tiago Santos and suspended defender Tanguy Nianzou. Lille next travel to Norway to play Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League on Tuesday, before an away league match against Rennes on 8 November. Lens defender Saud Abdulhamid was booked in the tenth minute, and Ancelotti in the 44th.[1]
