PLAYER RATINGS | Lille 2-1 Monaco: Hákon Arnar Haraldsson double takes LOSC onto podium

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 23, 22/02/25

Hákon Arnar Haraldsson’s first-half brace was enough to see Lille OSC beat AS Monaco (2-1) and provisionally take a place on the Ligue 1 podium.

The Match

The first chance fell to Monaco, however, Mika Biereth, returning to the starting XI having been dropped in midweek, was indecisive in deciding how to finish past Lucas Chevalier first time as he got on the end of Vanderson’s curved ball in behind. Ultimately, his tame effort to go past the Frenchman saw the ball dribble wide.

Ngal’ayel Mukau then tested Radoslaw Majecki into his first save of the afternoon and he was equal to the well-struck effort that looked to be creeping into his bottom left corner. However, there was nothing that he could do with Haraldsson’s effort midway through the half. A cute but simple reverse ball from Benjamin André split the game open, Mukau progressed it to Haraldsson, who drove to the edge of the box and slotted into Majecki’s far corner. 

Monaco should have levelled through Eliesse Ben Seghir, who contrived to tap wide from seven yards with the goal gaping and soon after, the Principality club were 2-0 behind. If the first goal was all LOSC’s making, the second was all Monaco’s as they once again proved their own worst enemy. 

It was Wilfried Singo who played Denis Zakaria into danger with a ball into his own box. Under pressure, Les Monégasques’ captain slipped and Haraldsson was there to pick up the pieces. His initial effort was saved but he made no mistake with the rebound. 

But Lille would see their lead halved before the break. Maghnes Akliouche, uncharacteristically quiet in the first half, headed down for Biereth, who had the awareness to backheel for Takumi Minamino, who tapped in from just a couple of yards out.

The second half was a quieter affair. Monaco had much of the ball but struggled to create anything clear-cut against a Lille side that were happy to sit compact. There was little danger on the threat from Les Dogues but it didn’t matter as they professionally saw out the result to move up to third. Monaco, meanwhile, move down to fifth.  

Lille player ratings

Lucas Chevalier – 5

Gabriel Gudmundsson – 6

Alexsandro – 7

Bafodé Diakité – 5

Thomas Meunier – 5

Benjamin André – 7

It was his vision and reading of the game that allowed Lille to cut Monaco open and net the opener in the first half and thereafter, he delivered an experienced performance. Never out of position, he was combative and won his key duels to ensure that LOSC’s lead was protected.

Ngal’ayel Mukau – 6

Ayyoub Bouaddi – 6

Chuba Akpom – 4

Jonathan David – 4

Hakon Arnar Haraldsson – 8

At times peripheral, he was deadly efficient when he did have the ball, making the right decisions and executing well to net twice.

Monaco player ratings

Radoslaw Majecki – 6

Krépin Diatta – 4

Christian Mawissa – 5

Wilfried Singo – 4

It was his mistake that proved costly in midweek against Benfica and another that proved costly here. Solid for much of the 90, making some important clearances, it was his senseless ball back into his own box, to the pressured Zakaria that saw Lille double their advantage and gave Monaco a mountain to climb.

Vanderson – 5

Lamine Camara – 4

Denis Zakaria – 5

Eliesse Ben Seghir – 4

Takumi Minamino – 6

Maghnes Akliouche – 4

Scintillating in midweek, despite the defeat to Benfica, there was perhaps an element of a hangover for the playmaker, who didn’t show his usual levels of energy and technical finesse, instead playing on the fringes of the match and losing too many balls too easily.

Mika Biereth – 5

GFFN | Luke Entwistle