Lille staged an impressive comeback on Sunday as veteran forward Olivier Giroud scored twice to guide the hosts to a thrilling 4-2 victory over Paris FC in Ligue 1. The win lifts Bruno Genesio’s side to fourth place on 23 points, keeping them in the European race.
Paris FC made a confident start and stunned the home crowd in the 11th minute. Willem Geubbels tapped into an empty net after Vincent Marchetti’s fierce strike smashed against the crossbar and dropped perfectly for the striker to convert.
Lille struggled to find rhythm in the opening half but eventually broke through five minutes before the break. Giroud swept home Romain Perraud’s low delivery, marking his first league goal for Lille since scoring in their opening two fixtures back in August.
The hosts dominated possession after the interval yet found it difficult to break down Paris FC’s disciplined back line. Substitute Hakon Haraldsson injected urgency, and his drive into the area earned Lille a penalty when he was clipped from behind.
Giroud confidently dispatched the spot-kick with 13 minutes left, completing his brace and turning the momentum firmly in Lille’s favour. Just minutes later, defender Aissa Mandi rose highest at the back post to head in from a corner, giving the hosts much-needed breathing room.
Paris FC refused to fade and clawed one back soon after. Lohann Doucet reacted quickly inside the box to finish from close range, setting up a tense finale for the home supporters.
Lille, however, sealed the contest deep into stoppage time. A last-minute penalty allowed Marius Broholm to secure the victory, ending a spirited resistance from the visitors and ensuring three valuable points for Genesio’s men.
Earlier in the day, Lyon were frustrated after being held to a goalless draw by bottom-placed Auxerre. The stalemate halted Auxerre’s four-game losing run while leaving Lyon further behind Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille in the title hunt.
Lyon’s chances of taking all three points slipped away when goalkeeper Dominik Greif saved Lassine Sinayoko’s first-half penalty. Assistant coach Jorge Maciel expressed disappointment, emphasising that ambition must be demonstrated on the pitch.
Elsewhere, fellow relegation battlers Lorient and Nantes drew 1-1 in a dramatic finish.
Chidozie Awaziem redeemed himself for an earlier own goal by scoring a 91st-minute equaliser for Nantes.
Metz slipped into the drop zone after a devastating 3-2 defeat away to Brest.
Romain Del Castillo’s penalty in the 100th minute condemned Metz to their eighth loss of the season.
Brest, who competed in the Champions League last year, jumped to 14th in the standings with the win. In another fixture, Angers edged Toulouse 1-0 thanks to a composed early finish from Yassin Belkhdim, moving both clubs level on 16 points in mid-table.
With Giroud’s resurgence and Lille’s growing momentum, the northern side appear well-positioned for a strong push as the Ligue 1 season approaches its midpoint.