Veteran striker Olivier Giroud proved once again that age is just a number, as he came off the bench to score a dramatic late winner for Lille in their 2–1 victory over Norwegian side Brann in the UEFA Europa League. The 38-year-old Frenchman, who joined Lille this summer after a stint with Los Angeles FC, delivered a trademark header in the 80th minute to seal all three points for the Ligue 1 outfit.
⚽ A Game of Two Halves
Played at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, the match began with Brann surprisingly on the front foot. Despite being underdogs, the Norwegian side created several early chances, including a header from captain Fredrik Pallesen Knudsen and a clever backheel flick from Emil Kornvig that nearly led to a goal. Lille, still recovering from a 3–0 loss to Lens, struggled to find rhythm in the first half and failed to register a shot on target.
Bruno Génésio’s side looked sluggish, and Brann’s confidence grew. Lille’s goalkeeper Berke Özer was fortunate when Noah Holm’s powerful strike hit the post, sparing the hosts from going behind.
🔥 Second-Half Spark
The second half saw a dramatic shift in tempo. Lille finally broke the deadlock in the 54th minute when Hamza Igamane tapped in a low cross from Matias Fernandez-Pardo. But Brann responded swiftly. Just six minutes later, Saevar Atli Magnusson slotted home an equalizer after a rapid counterattack, punishing Lille for a defensive lapse.
The game opened up, with both teams striking the woodwork multiple times. Kornvig hit the bar for Brann, while Fernandez-Pardo and Ayyoub Bouaddi did the same for Lille.
👑 Enter Giroud
With the match hanging in the balance, Bruno Génésio turned to his experienced forward. Giroud, who turns 39 next week, rose to the occasion—literally. In the 80th minute, he soared above the defense to meet a pinpoint cross from Tiago Santos and nodded it past Brann’s keeper Mathias Dyngeland.
It was a classic Giroud goal: powerful, precise, and poetic. The Frenchman has now scored three goals in five competitive matches for Lille, showing that his instincts remain razor-sharp.
🧠 Tactical Takeaways
Lille’s rotation gamble: Génésio made six changes from their previous match, which may have contributed to their slow start.
Brann’s bravery: Despite the loss, Brann showed resilience and tactical discipline, nearly snatching a point on foreign soil.
Giroud’s impact: His aerial prowess and leadership were decisive. Lille’s Europa League campaign could hinge on moments like these.
📅 What’s Next?
Lille will travel to Roma on October 2nd for their next Europa League fixture, while Brann will host Utrecht on the same day. With momentum on their side, Lille will hope to build on this gritty win.
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