FC Nantes vs LOSC Lille Player Ratings: H. Haraldsson and H. Igamane Crush Nantes’ Hopes and Seal the Win

What a showing from LOSC Lille. From our perspective, this was a tactical masterclass at the Stade de la Beaujoire - Louis Fonteneau. They arrived at this match with a clear plan and executed it almost flawlessly. Nantes, on the other hand, just never seemed to get a foothold in this Ligue 1 contest.

It was clear from the opening minutes who was in control. Hákon Arnar Haraldsson's early goal in the 8th minute really set the tone. It felt like Nantes were chasing shadows for most of the first half. They were simply outplayed in every department.

Despite hitting the woodwork twice, the home side lacked the cutting edge required. LOSC Lille's defense, marshaled by the immense Chancel Mbemba, was a fortress. The game was ultimately put to bed when substitute Hamza Igamane scored late on, sealing a comfortable and well-deserved 2-0 win for the visitors.

FC Nantes Player Ratings vs LOSC Lille

Here are the FC Nantes player ratings:

Goalkeeper

Anthony Lopes - 6.0: It's hard to be too critical of the keeper. He was left exposed for both goals. He did make three saves, two from inside the box, which prevented an even bigger defeat. What stood out to us was his distribution; it was a bit wayward at times, only finding its mark 62% of the time.

Defenders

Chidozie Awaziem - 6.5: A mixed bag from the central defender. He had some strong moments, making seven clearances and a couple of crucial blocks. However, he also picked up a late yellow card and was part of a backline that looked disjointed. His pass for Matthias Abline in the first half was a moment of quality, though.

Louis Leroux - 5.5: A difficult evening for the defender. He was dribbled past twice and seemed to struggle with the movement of Lille's attackers. While he made eight clearances, he lost possession 16 times, which is far too many for a defender. He just never looked comfortable from our perspective.

Tylel Tati - 6.5: Probably the most solid of the backline. Tati won all his tackles and made a remarkable nine clearances. He even made a last-man tackle, which was a huge moment. The error that led to a shot was a blot on his copybook, but overall, he did what he could against a superior attack.

Kelvin Amian - 6.0: As captain, you expect a bit more leadership. He battled hard, but lost more duels than he won, and his three fouls showed some frustration. He blocked three shot,s which was important, but he offered little going forward and was part of a defense that conceded twice.

Midfielders

Hyeok-kyu Kwon - 7.0: One of the few bright spots for Nantes. He worked tirelessly in the middle, winning six duels and drawing four fouls. His passing was neat and tidy with 93% accuracy. We noticed he was always trying to get his team moving forward, a lone warrior in a losing battle.

Dehmaine Tabibou - 5.0: A really tough day at the office for the midfielder. An error leading to a goal is the cardinal sin, and it completely undermined his performance. Beyond that huge mistake, he lost possession 15 times and offered very little creativity. A performance to forget.

Junior Mwanga - 6.0: He showed some fight, winning five duels and making three tackles. He even created a chance. But losing the ball eight times and being dispossessed on three occasions highlighted his struggles against a dominant Lille midfield. He put in the effort but lacked the quality on the day.

Forwards

Matthis Abline - 7.0: The unluckiest man on the pitch. To hit the woodwork twice is just cruel. He was Nantes' biggest threat by a country mile, registering five shots in total. He never stopped running and trying to make things happen. On another day, he could have had a brace.

Herba Guirassy - 6.0: He created two chances, including one big chance, which shows he has the vision. However, a passing accuracy of 56% and losing 14 possessions meant his final product was often lacking. He was taken off after an hour, having failed to make a decisive impact.

Mostafa Mohamed - 5.5: From our perspective, he was completely anonymous. He only had 14 touches in 63 minutes. He won just two of his nine duels and looked isolated up front. It was no surprise to see him substituted, a very ineffective outing.

Substitutes

Youssef El-Arabi - 6.0: Came on but couldn't change the flow of the game.

Yassine Benhattab - 6.0: Added some fresh legs but the game was already drifting away from Nantes.

Bahmed Deuff - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Uros Radakovic - N/A: Brought on late in the game.

Manager

L. Ferreira de Castro - 5.5: His team looked outclassed from the first whistle. The tactics seemed reactive rather than proactive, and they were second best all over the park. While player errors contributed, the overall setup didn't seem equipped to handle Lille's system. A disappointing performance from the dugout.

LOSC Lille Player Ratings vs FC Nantes

Here are the LOSC Lille player ratings:

Goalkeeper

Berke Özer - 7.5: He didn't have a massive amount to do, but what he did, he did well. He made two important saves to deny Matthis Abline and keep his clean sheet intact. His distribution was solid, and he commanded his area with confidence. A reliable performance between the sticks.

Defenders

Thomas Meunier - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular game. He created two chances, which was a nice bonus from a defender. However, he also lost possession 21 times, which is a bit concerning. The yellow card was clumsy, but defensively, he did his job adequately.

Romain Perraud - 7.0: A very busy performance from the full-back. He had 83 touches and was constantly involved, creating two chances. He was booked but also won all his tackles. What stood out to us was his willingness to get forward and support the attack, though his crossing could have been better.

Chancel Mbemba - 8.0: An absolute rock at the heart of the defense. He was immense, winning nine of his eleven duels and making nine clearances. His positioning was perfect throughout the match. From our perspective, he gave the Nantes attackers absolutely nothing. A dominant and commanding display.

Aïssa Mandi - 7.5: The perfect partner for Mbemba. He was just as solid, making a massive ten clearances. His passing was exceptional at 92% accuracy, helping Lille build from the back with composure. He almost got on the scoresheet with a header, too. A top-class defensive performance.

Midfielders

Matías Fernández-Pardo - 7.0: He was a constant threat, taking six shots with three on target. He was always looking to get into dangerous positions. His end product wasn't always perfect, and he missed a big chance, but his energy and directness caused problems for the opposition all game.

Hákon Arnar Haraldsson - 8.0: Scored a well-taken opening goal and was desperately unlucky not to have a second after hitting the post. He was a constant threat with his movement and shooting from midfield. He did commit a few too many fouls, but his attacking contribution was decisive. What a talent.

Benjamin André - 8.0: The captain led by example. A true midfield general, he won nine of his twelve duels, showcasing his dominance. He broke up play effectively and his passing was intelligent, keeping his team in control. We noticed his leadership was crucial in seeing out the win.

Félix Correia - 8.5: Our man of the match. He was simply sensational. Five chances created, five key passes, and a 71% successful cross rate. He was the creative hub of the team, and everything good seemed to flow through him. A joy to watch and a defender's nightmare. He was unplayable at times.

Ayyoub Bouaddi - 7.0: A tidy and effective performance from the young midfielder. He kept the ball moving with an impressive 94% pass accuracy. He also chipped in defensively with four clearances and won four duels. The yellow card was a slight negative, but it was a very mature performance.

Forwards

Olivier Giroud - 7.5: Even when he doesn't score, he makes a huge impact. He provided a clever assist for the opening goal. He was a handful for the defenders, using his strength and intelligence to bring teammates into play. He created three chances in total, showing his value is far more than just goals.

Substitutes

Hamza Igamane - 7.5: The perfect impact sub. Came on and sealed the victory with a composed finish. A great cameo.

Osame Sahraoui - 7.0: Provided the assist for the second goal shortly after coming on. Excellent contribution.

Calvin Verdonk - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

André Gomes - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Ethan Mbappé - N/A: A late appearance for the youngster.

Manager

B. Génésio - 8.0: His game plan was executed to perfection. His team controlled the game from the start, were solid at the back, and clinical when it mattered. His substitutions were spot on, with two of them combining for the game-sealing goal. A tactical masterclass from the LOSC Lille boss.