PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 0-1 Lille: Bruno Genesio’s side climb onto podium; ASM’s European hopes fade | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 33, 10/05/26

Lille OSC edged AS Monaco in a cagey, low-quality game to climb onto the Ligue 1 podium at the expense of Olympique Lyonnais (0-1).

The Match

Lille were the form side coming in, and they played like it. Unbeaten in 12 in Ligue 1, they needed to extend that run to keep in touch with Lyon – or as it would transpire, surpass them – going into the final matchday of the season. Monaco needed a result too, even if the chances of a top-four finish were slim. 

It was LOSC who had the hosts under the cosh with their pressing. No clear opportunities were presented, despite Aladji Bamba’s inability to deal with the press. He offered openings that were not seized upon. There was almost a clear one to speak of when Clément Turpin pointed to the spot. He thought that Jordan Teze had brought down Matias Fernandez-Pardo in the box. Replays showed he did not. The decision was overturned. 

Despite LOSC’s domination inside the first half hour, Monaco had the first clear sight of goal, but Maghnes Akliouche couldn’t get his effort on target following a link-up with Jordan Teze down the right. The first half was one of tepid counter-punches and, in that vein, Lille responded. Fernandez-Pardo couldn’t turn home Hakón Arnar Haraldsson’s teasing ball across goal; he should have at least got a touch… any would likely have been enough.

A point didn’t suit either team, but neither side did a lot to ensure taking all three. LOSC were the more likely upon the return from the dressing room. Thomas Meunier’s venomous half-volley would have troubled Hradecky if it had been placed either side of the Finnish goalkeeper. Placement was an issue again moments later, a ball put across the face of goal, but slightly behind Fernandez-Pardo, allowing Wout Faes to make an important clearance. 

If LOSC were knocking on the door, it was only very timidly, but it didn’t matter. Lamine Camara, heavily linked with a move away from Monaco, handed Genesio’s side a gift, misplacing his pass, playing in Gaetan Perrin, who played it across for Meunier. It wouldn’t reach him. Scrambling to recover, captain Denis Zakaria put it into his own net.

The Principality club found themselves in a familiar position, needing to react. They wouldn’t muster one. Between conceding in the 72nd minute and the end of regulation time, Les Monégasques did not take a single shot. A logical and damaging defeat for the hosts. LOSC are on the podium.

Monaco player ratings

Lukas Hradecky – 5

Christian Mawissa – 4

Denis Zakaria – 6

Thilo Kehrer – 5

Simon Adingra – 2

His loan spell from Sunderland has been mixed. There have been moments of inspiration, but there weren’t any tonight. He looked completely out of sync with his teammates and incapable of keeping hold of the ball. He was part of the first round of substitutions, unsurprisingly. 

Lamine Camara – 3

A strong performance was ruined by a game-changing error. His back pass, meant for Kehrer, was misplaced and handed LOSC an advantage that they would not squander. It is rumoured that this may have been his final performance at the Stade Louis II. It isn’t the note he would have wanted to end on.

Aladji Bamba – 4

Jordan Teze – 5

Aleksandr Golovin – 4

Folarin Balogun – 4

Maghnes Akliouche – 5

Lille player ratings

Berke Ozer – 5

Romain Perraud – 5

Aissa Mandi – 5

Nathan Ngoy – 7

Thomas Meunier – 7

The Belgian was excellent in defence and in attack. Monaco struggled to follow his movement throughout as he picked out positions in the midfield and used possession effectively, notably setting up Bouaddi for his first-half chance. 

Ayyoub Bouaddi – 5

Yellow-carded in the first half, Genesio opted to replace him with the returning Nabil Bentaleb (6) at half-time.

Benjamin André – 5

Félix Correia – 4

Hakon Arnar Haraldsson – 6

The Iceland international set the tone with his pressing. He took up good positions between the lines and should have had an assist for his delightful ball across for Fernandez-Pardo. 

Ngal’ayel Mukau – 5

Matias Fernandez-Pardo – 5

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco