PLAYER RATINGS | Lille 2-1 Brann: Olivier Giroud to the rescue in Europa League victory

UEFA Europa League, Round 1, 25/09/2025

Lille OSC would get off to a winning start in the UEFA Europa League against Norwegian side Brann following Olivier Giroud’s late rescue act off the bench. 

The Match

Bruno Génésio made six changes from the defeat away to RC Lens on Saturday evening, hardly a surprise when the head coach has made rotation one of his core tenets when juggling a campaign fought on two fronts. Still, it was hard not to think that this was partly responsible for the slow start Lille put out. 

Brann had a couple of excellent chances early on from headers by Frederik Pallesen Knudsen and Emil Kornvig to open the scoring, but the finish was left wanting, and both drifted out for goal kicks. Lille had a small patch where they looked more threatening. Osame Sahraoui, in particular, looked lively when he was allowed to run at his opposite number, Thore Pedersen. 

However, it was Brann who would have the best of the half. Niklas Castro’s rolling cross found Emil Kornvig at the far post. The midfielder flicked the ball with a backheel to the striker Noah Holm, but he could only fire his shot at the post. A huge let-off for the hosts in a half where they had been second best.  

After a tepid half, someone remembered to switch these teams on, and they came out swinging. In the 54th minute, Hamza Igamane opened the scoring after a clever run from Matias Fernandez-Pardo set him up for the finish. Six minutes later, Brann would equalise with an incisive passing move that would be finished by Sævar Atli Magnússon. 

Brann would hit the post for the second time. Kornvig letting fly from outside the box, his dipping effort couldn’t fall fast enough and kissed the crossbar. Fernandez-Pardo would do the same down the other end as Les Dogues searched for a way to win back their short-lived lead. It would come to the substitute, Olivier Giroud, to return the lead to Lille. 

The former France international outleaped his competition to get on the end of Tiago Santos’s deep cross. A trademark header from the veteran striker, where he seemed to float in the air waiting until connection with the ball was made before he allowed gravity to drag him down. Giroud would have a second bite of the cherry, but dragged Félix Correia’s cross wide. 

Berke Özer, who hadn’t had to make a save the entire night, was suddenly forced into a flurry of late saves to protect Lille’s narrow lead at the death. A task he proved that he was able to live up to.

Lille Player Ratings

Berke Özer – 5

Calvin Verdonk – 5 

Maxima Goffi – 5

Chancel Mbemba – 5

Tiago Santos – 6

Replaced by Aïssa Mandi in the 88th minute. 

Nabil Bentaleb – 6

Replaced by Ayyoub Bouaddi in the 77th minute. 

Hákon Arnar Haraldsson – 4

At fault for Brann’s equaliser. He lost possession close to the goal, which allowed the visitors to strike quickly in a rapid transition. In general, he struggled to fully put his fingerprint on the game when Lille needed someone to take the match by the scruff of the neck. 

Ngal’ayel Mukau – 4

Matias Fernandez-Pardo – 6

A good game from the winger, he came alive in the second half, setting up Igamane for the opener. He also came close when he struck the post. He had a number of dangerous moments and looked like one of Lille’s livelier starters. 

Hamza Igamane – 5

A good finish for the goal, but probably should have punished Brann when the goalkeeper, Mathias Dyngeland, went wandering and was caught in possession. The former Rangers man had the chance to let fly from distance, but delayed his shot. He looked quite quiet throughout the first half. Replaced in the 67th minute by Olivier Giroud, who would prove to be the match-winner. 

Osame Sahraoui – 6

Replaced by Félix Correia in the 68th minute. 

Brann Selected Player Ratings 

Thore Pedersen – 4

Sævar Atli Magnússon – 6

Mathias Dyngeland – 4 

GFFN | Nick Hartland