Giroud secures dramatic Northern Derby win for Lille
Olivier Giroud came off the bench to score an 86th-minute winner, lifting Lille to second place in Ligue 1 after a tense victory over Lens.
The Northern Derby between Lille and Lens ended in a narrow 1-0 victory for the hosts, thanks to a decisive late strike from veteran forward Olivier Giroud. The 40-year-old, who started the match on the bench, found the back of the net in the 86th minute to break the deadlock and secure all three points for his side.
A hard-fought battle
Despite the defeat, Lens goalkeeper Robin Risser put in a stellar performance, earning an 8.5 rating for his efforts. Risser kept his team in the game by making six crucial saves and remained active throughout the contest, recording 51 touches and completing 24 long balls.
The result sees Lille climb to second place in the Ligue 1 table. The match was a tightly contested affair, with both sides battling for control until Giroud's late intervention finally tilted the scales in favor of the home team.
See stats and expectations for corners, cards and other incidents in upcoming matches.
Matches →
