Giroud Scores as Lille Give Ancelotti Winning Start

Veteran striker Olivier Giroud scored an 11th-minute opener to give coach Davide Ancelotti a triumphant start as Lille defeated Angers 2-0 on Sunday.

Giroud latched onto Nabil Bentaleb’s pass before drilling a precise long-range strike low into the net to break the deadlock early in their Ligue 1 opener.

Lille doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark when Tiago Santos volleyed home a loose ball to cap off a slick team movement.

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Ancelotti, who succeeded Bruno Genesio in June, celebrated his first victory at the helm despite Giroud noting after the match that the squad could have put the game away even earlier.

The match ended with an emotional farewell from 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who saluted travelling fans amid reports of a transfer to Manchester City.

Elsewhere in Ligue 1, former England defender Eric Dier scored the decisive goal in Monaco’s 1-0 win against Le Havre.

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Abisoye Adeyiga

Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.