Giroud’s late header spares Lille as Brann push them to the brink
Lille made it four home wins on the bounce across all competitions but were made to sweat every second of the way, eventually edging out a spirited Brann side 2-1 on the opening night of their Europa League campaign.
Few expected much from the Norwegian visitors, but they almost stunned the Stade Pierre-Mauroy inside four minutes. Niklas Castro swung in a wicked corner, Fredrik Pallesen Knudsen rose highest, and with the goal gaping the Brann skipper somehow headed wide from around 10 yards. It was a let-off for Lille, who looked rattled at the back and were still carrying the scars of last weekend’s 3-0 hammering by Lens. Nabil Bentaleb tried to spark his side into life with a clever pass in behind for Osame Sahraoui, but the winger went for glory from an impossible angle and shanked it so badly it went out for a throw. That just about summed up the hosts’ sloppy first half.
Brann, halfway through their domestic season and sharper than their opponents, continued to threaten in the air. Emil Kornvig flicked on for Noah Holm who lashed against the woodwork just before the break, with Berke Özer stranded. Somehow the half ended with no shots on target – hardly what Génésio would’ve had in mind for a European night under the lights.
Most expected Olivier Giroud to be summoned to rescue things, but the opener came without him. Calvin Verdonk released Matias Fernandez-Pardo down the flank, and after roasting Eivind Helland, the youngster squared for Hamza Igamane to tap home. Brann heads dropped only briefly – Dyngeland survived a disastrous wander out of his area, then Lille skipper Hákon Haraldsson gifted possession straight away again, and Holm slipped in Sævar Atli Magnússon who drilled in off the post to level it up.
That goal gave Brann fresh legs and belief, and they so nearly went ahead when Kornvig crashed another shot off the bar. Lille looked wobbly, and both Fernandez-Pardo and Ayyoub Bouaddi rattled the frame of the goal as the match turned frantic. In truth, it could have gone either way.
In the end though, experience told. With 10 minutes left, Giroud – the man for the big occasion – rose like he’s done a thousand times before, meeting Tiago Santos’ pinpoint cross with a thumping header that left Dyngeland no chance. Relief more than joy inside the stadium, as Lille clung on to secure the points.
Brann will take pride from their performance and leave France wondering what might have been, still searching for a first European win over Ligue 1 opposition. Lille, meanwhile, have the three points but not the convincing display they’ll need if they want to make a deep run in this competition.