PLAYER RATINGS | Metz 0-0 Lille: Les Dogues labour to goalless draw as pressure mounts on Bruno Genesio | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 21, 06/01/2026 

Lille’s dismal run continued on Friday night as they were held to a goalless draw against Ligue 1’s bottom side, Metz. Les Dogues have only won one of their last 8 matches in all competitions as the pressure mounts on Bruno Genesio.

The match

In the opening 4 minutes, Lille believed that they had been awarded a penalty. Bouaddi played a great pass in behind for Fernández Pardo, who was brought down in the penalty area whilst one-on-one with Fischer. However, following a VAR review, the referee reversed his decision as replays showed the Belgian forward trying to win a penalty. He was booked for simulation. 

Metz then thought that they had taken the lead, but VAR intervened for the second time on the night. Habib Diallo made a run in behind and did well to find Alpha Touré, who applied a simple finish. Nevertheless, the celebrations of Ligue 1’s bottom side were cut short as Diallo failed to time his run, and he was ruled offside. 

As Lille pressed forward and tried to make the most of their dominance in possession, Tiago Santos did well to pick out Haraldsson in space. The Icelandic international playmaker hit a first-time shot with power and found the side netting. Edjouma was presented with an opportunity less than a minute later, but the debutant fired his effort over the bar. The former Toulouse winger found himself in one goal again before the half was over, yet he was thwarted by some good defending. It remained goalless at the break.  

Habib Diallo had the first effort of the second half as he burst in behind the Lille defence. Les Dogues defenders managed to get back goal side, and the Senegalese forward curled his effort over the crossbar. As we waited for the game’s first shot on target, Haraldsson hit a shot in anger from distance, which went narrowly wide. Edjouma played Giroud into space, but with the angle narrowing and the forward forced onto his weak foot, his tame effort also went wide.  

Abuashvili broke into some space and perhaps should have looked for a better option, but the Georgian went for goal and hit his effort straight at Özer. This was the match’s first shot on target after 68 minutes. Correia then had the biggest chance of the game as he hit the inside of the post following a good save from Fischer. In the final minutes of the game, the ball fell to Diaoune in a dangerous position, and instead of shooting, the 18-year-old tried to come inside and lost the ball. Bekre Özer almost made a mess as he came out to receive the ball outside his box, but his blushes were saved.

Just as Lille failed to capitalise on a half-chance at one end, a long ball is launched towards Gautier Hein, and the Frenchman believes he is brought down by Özer following the shot. Nevertheless, the altercation was waved away by the referee and the match ended goalless. 

Lille player ratings:

Berke Özer – 5

Tiago Santos – 5

Aïssa Mandi – 5

Alexsandro –  4

Romain Perraud –  5

Benjamin André – 5

Ayyoub Bouaddi – 6

The French youth international was the bright spark for Les Dogues in the middle of the park. Whether it be sticking to his defensive duties, dropping deeper to progress play or playing forward passes, the teenager offered some much-needed positivity – something that has been lacking at Lille in recent weeks.

Noah Edjouma – 5

Hákon Haraldsson – 4

Matías Fernández-Pardo – 5

Olivier Giroud – 4

It was a difficult night for France’s former all-time leading goalscorer. Service was limited to the 38-year-old for most of the night, and with the half-chances that were presented to him, he struggled to make the most of them. His struggles were testament to what was a difficult night for Les Dogues. 

GFFN | Liam Wraith