Olivier Giroud scores in 2-0 win at Angers as Davide Ancelotti opens Lille tenure
Goals from Olivier Giroud and Tiago Santos earned Lille a 2-0 victory at Angers, giving new manager Davide Ancelotti an opening win as midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi nears a 100 million euro transfer to Manchester City.
Managerial debut and league standings
Davide Ancelotti began his tenure as Lille manager with a 2-0 victory away at Angers on Sunday in the opening round of the 2026-27 Ligue 1 campaign. Ancelotti, the son of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, took charge of the club in June following the departure of Bruno Genesio to Marseille. The result placed Lille on three points at the top of the standings alongside Marseille, Lens, Monaco, and Lyon. Lille entered the domestic season after finishing third in the French top flight during the previous campaign, securing a spot in the Champions League league phase, while Paris Saint-Germain opened their schedule later in the day against Rennes.
First-half goals from Giroud and Santos
Lille adapted to an uneven pitch that was deteriorated along the touchline, generating an initial chance in the 10th minute when Angers goalkeeper Anthony Lopes blocked an effort from Ethan Mbappé with his foot while recruit Basar Önal waited unmarked inside the penalty area. One minute later, Olivier Giroud collected a pass from Nabil Bentaleb 30 meters from goal and drove a low left-footed shot past Lopes inside the left post. The 39-year-old striker had been uncertain to play due to a pre-season knee knock. With the goal, Giroud became the fifth-oldest goalscorer in Ligue 1 history since the 1947-1948 season, trailing only Roger Courtois, Benjamin Nivet, Dante, and Salvator Artigas. Lille doubled their advantage in the 31st minute when Hakon Haraldsson found Mbappé, whose effort was blocked by Ousmane Camara before right-back Tiago Santos volleyed the rebound into the net.
- Anthony Lopes saves Ethan Mbappé's shot with his foot
- Olivier Giroud scores the opening goal from outside the penalty area
- Tiago Santos volleys in a loose ball to double Lille's lead
- Angers introduces Prosper Peter and switches to a 4-4-2 formation
- Anthony Lopes stops two consecutive close-range efforts from Hakon Haraldsson
- Lille defense blocks Amine Sbaï's stoppage-time shot from seven meters
Angers tactical adjustments and defensive resistance
Angers mounted several attacking phases before and after the interval, beginning with an off-target header from Anthony Bermont in the 38th minute and a strike from Jacques Ekomie in the 54th minute. The hosts adjusted their formation to a 4-4-2 following the introduction of substitute Prosper Peter in the 57th minute. Peter met two separate deliveries from Amine Sbaï in the 59th and 64th minutes, but Lille goalkeeper Berke Özer gathered both attempts. Angers forward Amine El Ouazzani bypassed defender Alexsandro in the 71st minute before sending a right-footed shot over the crossbar.
Late exchanges and Bouaddi transfer negotiations
Lille maintained defensive stability during the closing stages as Lopes denied two consecutive close-range efforts from Haraldsson in the 74th minute, while a potential second goal from Santos was ruled out because Felix Correia was standing in an offside position along the path of the ball. Angers created a final chance in the third minute of stoppage time when Sbaï had an effort from seven meters blocked. Midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi did not play and watched the match from the stands alongside club president Olivier Létang, with a 100 million euro transfer, bonuses included, to Manchester City close to conclusion.
Lille sporting coordinator Sylvain Armand confirmed the advanced state of the transfer discussions for the Moroccan international following the fixture.
Things have progressed well in the last few hours regarding his departure.
