Angers 0-1 Lille Player Ratings: Giroud's Penalty Clinches Narrow Victory for Visitors | Ligue 1

A solitary penalty from Olivier Giroud was enough for LOSC Lille to claim a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Angers SCO in a tense Ligue 1 encounter. The game, played at Stade Raymond Kopa, was far from a classic. It was a gritty affair decided by a single moment of madness in the penalty box. From our perspective, Lille were the deserving winners, although they made heavy work of it.

The decisive moment arrived just before the halftime whistle. Tiago Santos, who was a menace all afternoon, was brought down in the box by a clumsy challenge from Jordan Lefort. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Veteran striker Olivier Giroud stepped up and coolly converted, sending the keeper the wrong way. It was a moment of pure composure that ultimately separated the two sides.

Throughout the match, Lille controlled possession and created the better opportunities but were wasteful in front of goal. Matías Fernández-Pardo missed a couple of glaring chances, and Tiago Santos was desperately unlucky to see his powerful shot cannon back off the crossbar late in the game. Angers SCO battled hard, with goalkeeper Hervé Koffi making several crucial saves to keep his team in the contest. However, they lacked the attacking quality to truly trouble the Lille defence. This match was a tale of one costly mistake and Lille's ability to grind out a result.

LOSC Lille Player Ratings vs Angers SCO

Goalkeeper

Berke Özer - 7.5: A quiet but composed performance from the Lille keeper. He only had two saves to make but was commanding in his area, claiming a high ball well. What stood out to us was his distribution; an 88% pass accuracy is excellent for a goalkeeper. He was never flustered and provided a solid foundation.

Defenders

Nathan Ngoy - 7.0: A steady showing from the defender. He was comfortable on the ball, completing 92% of his passes. However, he did pick up a yellow card for a cynical foul and was dribbled past once. He was strong in his duels for the most part, contributing to a vital clean sheet.

Tiago Santos - 8.0: A fantastic, all-action display. His bursting run into the box won the decisive penalty, showcasing his attacking intent. He was a constant threat down the right flank and was incredibly unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself when his late strike hit the woodwork. A truly dynamic performance.

Aïssa Mandi - 8.5: Our man of the match. An absolute colossus at the back. He read the game beautifully, making three interceptions and two clearances. His quality on the ball was immense, boasting a 94% pass accuracy and completing 8 of 12 long balls. He was dominant in the air and even got forward for a couple of shots. A complete central defensive performance.

Calvin Verdonk - 6.5: A mixed bag from the left-back. He showed willingness to get forward and delivered some crosses but his final ball was inconsistent. He lost possession 14 times which is a bit high. Defensively he was okay but didn't look entirely comfortable, committing three fouls.

Midfielders

Benjamin André - 7.0: The captain led by example with a typically tenacious performance. He was a disruptive force in midfield, winning three tackles and making four interceptions. His experience was crucial in managing the game's final stages. He was a bit loose in possession at times but his defensive work was invaluable.

Matías Fernández-Pardo - 6.5: It was a frustrating day for the young midfielder. He got into great positions but his finishing let him down, missing two big chances. He did provide three key passes, showing his creative side. If he had brought his shooting boots, his rating would be much higher.

Félix Correia - 6.5: He was lively in the first half and got into some dangerous areas. However, like his midfield partner, he was guilty of missing a big chance. His influence waned as the game went on, and he was eventually substituted. A decent effort but lacked that killer instinct.

Gaëtan Perrin - 8.0: A superb creative display. In just 73 minutes, he was Lille's most inventive player, creating a big chance and racking up five key passes. His delivery from wide areas and set-pieces was a constant source of danger for the Angers defence. We were surprised to see him taken off.

Ayyoub Bouaddi - 7.5: An excellent, mature performance in the heart of midfield. He was brilliant at breaking up play, winning an impressive 80% of his tackles. He was also extremely secure in possession, with a 94% pass accuracy. He provided the perfect screen for the back four.

Forwards

Olivier Giroud - 7.5: The difference-maker. He showed nerves of steel to convert the penalty that won his team the three points. While he wasn't heavily involved in open play, his hold-up play was effective, and he created one big chance for a teammate. A classic, efficient performance from the veteran striker.

Substitutes

Nabil Bentaleb - N/A: Came on late and didn't have enough time to make an impact.

Hákon Haraldsson - N/A: Not enough time to warrant a rating but drew a couple of fouls.

Romain Perraud - N/A: A late replacement to see out the game.

Ngal'ayel Mukau - N/A: Brought on in the final ten minutes.

Manager

B. Génésio - 7.5: His game plan worked perfectly. His team dominated the ball and territory, and though they weren't clinical, they created enough to win. The defensive structure was solid, ensuring a clean sheet and a vital away win. Good substitutions helped see the game out.

Angers Player Ratings vs LOSC Lille

Goalkeeper

Hervé Koffi - 8.0: He was Angers' best player by a mile. He made four crucial saves, including some brilliant stops to deny Fernandez-Pardo and Mandi. He could do nothing about the penalty. Without his heroics, the scoreline would have been much more comfortable for Lille. A top performance despite the loss.

Defenders

Jacques Ekomié - 5.5: He had a really difficult time against Lille's attack. He struggled in his duels, winning only a third of them, and was often caught out of position. He lost the ball 16 times, putting his team under pressure. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Ousmane Camara - 7.0: A solid and composed performance at the back. He passed the ball with 94% accuracy and made five important clearances. He was strong in the tackle and read the danger well. One of the few Angers defenders to come out of the game with credit.

Jordan Lefort - 5.0: A day to forget for the defender. His performance was completely defined by the clumsy and unnecessary foul for the penalty. That single moment of madness cost his team the match. He was otherwise okay, but such a critical error cannot be overlooked.

Lilian Raolisoa - 6.0: A very busy afternoon for the full-back. He was engaged in eight duels and tried his best to support the attack. However, he struggled to contain Lille's wide players and committed three fouls. A hard-working but ultimately limited performance.

Midfielders

Louis Mouton - 6.0: He worked hard in the midfield but struggled to make a significant impact on the game. He had a couple of speculative shots from distance that didn't trouble the keeper. He was neat on the ball but was part of a midfield that was second-best for long periods.

Amine Sbaï - 6.5: One of the few Angers players who tried to be proactive. He attempted six dribbles and provided two key passes. However, his final product was often lacking and he lost possession 14 times. An energetic but frustrating performance.

Branco van den Boomen - 7.5: He was the creative hub for Angers. His range of passing was superb, completing 9 out of 10 long balls. He was always looking to create, but the movement ahead of him was limited. He worked hard defensively but his yellow card was a blemish.

Yassin Belkhdim - 6.0: A quiet and ineffective game. He picked up a yellow card and didn't contribute much in an attacking sense. He made a couple of tackles but was largely a passenger in midfield. Not his best day.

Haris Belkebla - 6.5: The captain put in a solid shift before his game was cut short by injury. He was tidy in possession and won all of his duels. His departure seemed to disrupt the team's structure. A shame he couldn't complete the match.

Forwards

Goduine Koyalipou - 6.0: He was left completely isolated for most of the game. He fought hard, winning half of his aerial duels, but he had very little service to work with. He managed one shot on target but was feeding off scraps all game. A thankless task for the striker.

Substitutes

Harouna Djibirin - N/A: Came on for the injured Belkebla but failed to make an impression.

Florent Hanin - N/A: Brought on for the final 12 minutes.

Manager

A. Dujeux - 6.0: His team was set up to be difficult to beat, and for large parts, they were. However, they offered almost nothing going forward, failing to register a single big chance. The defensive game plan was undone by an individual error, and there was no Plan B to get back into the game.