Lille 1-0 Nantes Player Ratings: Nathan Ngoy's Late Goal Secures A Narrow Victory Despite Nantes' Brave Display

This Ligue 1 fixture at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy was a tense, tactical affair that felt like it was destined for a goalless draw. LOSC Lille dominated the ball, as we expected, but they found it incredibly difficult to break down a very stubborn and well-organised Nantes side.

This was a classic case of attack versus defence for long stretches. Nantes came with a clear game plan to sit deep, absorb pressure, and maybe, just maybe, nick a goal on the counter. They almost pulled it off perfectly.

LOSC Lille huffed and puffed, creating a few decent chances, with Benjamin André coming close with a header and Matías Fernández-Pardo rattling the woodwork. You could feel the frustration building for the home side as the clock ticked down.

But then, a moment of magic happened from an unlikely hero. With the game heading towards a stalemate, defender Nathan Ngoy popped up to score the winner in the 94th minute, sending the home crowd into raptures.

It was a cruel blow for Nantes, who had defended so valiantly for 90 minutes, but a deserved three points for Lille based on the balance of play in this match.

Here are the Lille vs Nantes Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Lille had the most of the ball throughout the game, but their xG (0.51) was a bit more than Nantes' (0.21).
• Benjamin André won the most duels in this game (14).
• Fabien Centonze had the most interceptions in this match.

Lille Player Ratings vs Nantes

Have a look at the Lille Player Ratings from the Lille vs Nantes Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Berke Özer - 7.0: Had one of the quietest nights of his career. He only had one save to make all game, which he handled with ease. What stood out to us was his perfect passing accuracy, which was crucial for starting Lille's attacks from deep. A clean sheet and a comfortable performance.

Defenders

Nathan Ngoy - 8.5: Our Man of the Match, without a doubt. He was an absolute colossus at the back, winning his duels and showing incredible composure on the ball with a 99% pass completion rate. To top it all off, he stepped up to score the winning goal. A defender's dream performance, truly outstanding.

Chancel Mbemba - 8.0: A monster performance alongside Ngoy. He was dominant in the air and made a staggering 10 clearances to snuff out any sniff of a Nantes attack. His distribution was also top-notch, with an 82% success rate on his long balls. A commanding and experienced display.

Tiago Santos - 6.5: A solid and energetic performance for the 63 minutes he was on the pitch. He provided a good outlet on the flank and was diligent in his defensive duties. He didn't do anything spectacular, but he also didn't put a foot wrong. A reliable outing.

Calvin Verdonk - 7.5: This guy was the team's metronome, with a massive 111 touches of the ball. He was constantly involved, recycling possession and linking the defence to the attack. He was also defensively sound, contributing with tackles and interceptions. A very intelligent and composed performance.

Midfielders

Hákon Arnar Haraldsson - 6.5: A tidy game from the midfielder. He kept things simple and effective, moving the ball well and creating one key pass. He worked hard for the team before being substituted. A solid, if unspectacular, contribution to the win.

Ngal'ayel Mukau - 6.0: A bit of a mixed bag from our perspective. He showed great passing ability but was also a bit loose in possession at times, even making an error that led to a shot. He battled hard, winning a good number of duels, but it felt like a slightly nervy performance.

Benjamin André - 7.5: The captain led by example with a typically combative display. He was an absolute beast in the air, winning 8 aerial duels, and won the majority of his ground duels too. His passing was a bit wayward, but his defensive work and sheer presence in midfield were vital. A warrior's performance.

Félix Correia - 6.5: Looked lively and dangerous during his time on the pitch. He was willing to take players on and won a good number of his duels. He was a constant outlet on the wing but perhaps lacked that final bit of quality before he was subbed off.

Gaëtan Perrin - 6.0: He delivered a great cross for André's big chance early on, but that was his main contribution. He struggled to get into the game otherwise, losing possession quite a bit. Not his best day at the office, but he did have that one key moment.

Forwards

Matías Fernández-Pardo - 7.5: Lille's most dangerous attacker by a mile. He was a nightmare for the Nantes defence, completing 5 dribbles and constantly looking to make something happen. He was desperately unlucky not to score after hitting the woodwork. An exciting and very positive performance.

Substitutes

Thomas Meunier - 6.0: Came on and provided fresh legs at the back, helping to see out the game without any fuss.

Noah Edjouma - 6.0: Added some energy on the wing and drew a foul in a good position.

Olivier Giroud - N/A: Didn't have much time or opportunity to make an impact but did pick up a yellow card.

Soriba Diaoune - N/A: Brought on late to help solidify the midfield and run down the clock.

Nabil Bentaleb - N/A: A late change to see out the result.

Manager

B. Génésio - 7.5: His game plan required patience, and it paid off. He set his team up to dominate the ball and trust that their quality would eventually shine through. His substitutions were sensible and helped maintain control. A well-earned victory against a very difficult opponent.

Nantes Player Ratings vs Lille

Have a look at the Nantes Player Ratings from the Lille vs Nantes Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Anthony Lopes - 6.5: The captain made a couple of key saves, including a brilliant one to deny André's header. He couldn't do anything about the goal, which was a close-range finish. Commanded his area well, but his distribution was a bit erratic, losing possession 19 times.

Defenders

Ali Youssef - 6.0: A steady but quiet game. He made six clearances and won most of his duels. He stuck to his task well and was part of a defensive unit that was very difficult to break down for 90 minutes. A solid shift.

Nicolas Cozza - 6.5: Put his body on the line with a blocked shot and made some important clearances. He was strong in his duels and played his part in the resilient defensive effort. He was unfortunate to be on the losing side after such a solid display.

Chidozie Awaziem - 6.5: A busy night for the centre-back, who was called upon to make seven clearances. He read the game well and was generally in the right place at the right time. A committed and solid defensive performance.

Fabien Centonze - 7.0: An outstanding defensive performance. He was a machine, winning an incredible 9 out of 13 duels, making 6 tackles, and recording 4 interceptions. He was everywhere, shutting down Lille's attacks on his flank. Easily Nantes' best player on the day.

Deiver Machado - 6.0: Had a decent 63 minutes before being substituted. He was defensively sound and didn't get beaten easily. He didn't offer much going forward, but his primary job was to defend, and he did it well.

Midfielders

Johann Lepenant - 5.5: A really tough evening for the midfielder. He was overrun in the middle of the park, being dribbled past five times and losing possession a staggering 17 times. He tried to get involved but struggled to cope with the pressure from Lille's midfield.

Mohamed Kaba - 7.0: A real fighter in the heart of midfield. He won a remarkable 9 duels and drew 4 fouls, constantly breaking up play and frustrating Lille. He picked up a yellow card for his troubles but was a huge reason why Nantes were so competitive. A very impressive display.

Louis Leroux - 5.5: He struggled to make any sort of impact on the game in his 62 minutes. He lost possession a few too many times and didn't provide any creative spark. It was a difficult game to shine in, and he was largely anonymous.

Forwards

Youssef El Arabi - 6.0: It was a thankless task for the striker. He was isolated for most of the match with very little service. What stood out to us was his fight; he still managed to win 7 duels despite being starved of the ball. He worked hard but had no chances to speak of.

Ignatius Ganago - 6.0: Had one of Nantes' few efforts on goal with a shot that was saved. Like his strike partner, he was left to feed on scraps. He battled for aerial balls but often came off second best. A frustrating night for the forward.

Substitutes

Francis Coquelin - 6.0: Came on to add steel to the midfield and did his job, breaking up play.

Matthis Abline - 6.0: Had one shot that went just wide, offering a brief threat after coming on.

Dehmaine Tabibou - 6.0: Tried to get involved but couldn't change the flow of the game.

Rémy Cabella - N/A: A late sub who had a shot blocked but didn't have enough time to influence the result.

Ibrahima Sissoko - N/A: Brought on in the final ten minutes to shore things up.

Manager

A. Kantari - 6.5: His tactical plan to defend deep and frustrate Lille was executed almost to perfection. His team was organized, disciplined, and incredibly hard to break down. Unfortunately, they couldn't hold out for the full 90 minutes, and the substitutions didn't provide a cutting edge. A good strategy that fell just short.

Man of the Match

Nathan Ngoy was the man of the match in this Ligue 1 game.

Worst Performer

Johann Lepenant was the worst performer from the Lille vs Nantes match.