LOSC let precious units slip away in the race for the podium this Sunday, neutralized at the end by Montpellier (2-2). Here are the grades we give Les Mastiffs at the final whistle.
Lucas Chevalier (6): Unable to intervene on the two Montpellier achievements, shot at close range with the head then the foot, the Lille goalkeeper stretched out to repel an attempt from Al-Tamari (15′), but also and above all a cover from Téji Savanier (41′). His presence alone was then enough to disconcert the Jordanian during a face-to-face encounter in the second period (72′). Lucas Chevalier did the job despite conceding two goals, keeping his team alive when he could.
Aïssa Mandi (6): Preferred over Thomas Meunier, Aïssa Mandi fulfilled her role perfectly by muzzling Arnaud Nordin on the side. The Montpellier player was invisible, except during a mix-up in the area at the end of the match. The international was less visible on the offensive level while the Lille game mainly leaned to the left.
Bafodé Diakité (4): Initially capable of containing the few Montpellier attacks, the Lille central defender failed to respond when he really needed to, failing in the two local achievements. He does not take the information and is beaten to the duel on Sylla's head (45+2′), then misses his clearance on Nordin's goal (90+4′) at the end of the match. In the end, it's expensive.
Alexsandro (4.5): Aligned alongside the former Toulouse player, Alexsandro also had moments of weakness on the two Montpellier goals. He lets go of the marking on the first, leaving Sylla (45+2′) alone to put his head, and remains a spectator on the second (90+4′) by suffering the mess rather than trying to intervene. Apart from these two situations, he still remained solid by winning the majority of these duels including the one against Ndiaye (89′) at the end of the game. His passing game also sometimes made it possible to break lines and launch Lille's offensive movements.
Mitchel Bakker (5) : Preferred over Gabriel Gudmundsson, left to rest, Mitchel Bakker was a powerhouse on his side. Very available, he was a force of suggestion on the offensive level, striking twice (37′, 39′, 61′), symbol of his presence. The Dutchman was sometimes clumsy defensively, despite some good interventions (48′). He ended up giving way to Gabriel Gudmundsson (77′) and taking a red card on the bench (90+9′).
Ayyoub Bouaddi (6) : Alongside Benjamin André in midfield, Ayyoub Bouaddi was in all the good moves, or almost, during the first act. His pressing and his overruns upset the Montpellier block, notably found wanting at the end of the first quarter of an hour (19′). Fair and clean in his interventions, he was one of the strongest Mastiffs in the first half before gradually fading away in the second.
Benjamin André (5.5): An old hand, Benjamin André fought a lot in midfield, like on Ferri (14′) at the start of the match, and did all that without taking any cards, it should be noted. His play with the ball, however, remains anecdotal, unlike the fact that he did not manage to remobilize his troops at the end of the match during which they were at bay.
Ngal'ayel Mukau (4): Placed a notch higher, as in Bologna, the Congolese international did not have the freedom he would have. Less comfortable in small spaces, when the big ones closed in front of him, he sometimes seemed lost in his position and was not able to get rid of his opponents enough to be a support to Jonathan David.
Matias Fernandez-Pardo (6): The Belgian ran again and again, from one side to the other, from his side to that of the opponent. His rides, of which he alone has the secret, were a breath of fresh air in Lille's offensive play, sometimes too slow or predictable. At the base of all the counter-attacks, he caused the first penalty converted by Jonathan David (44'). His atypical profile brings real variety to the LOSC schemes.
Rémy Cabella (5): Tickled then frankly manhandled by the Montpellier public, Rémy Cabella offered a lot, until obtaining the second penalty transformed by Jonathan David (54'). His game, however, was marred by certain technical waste or by bad choices. The atmosphere then took over and he was close to being excluded. Author of an elbow on Téji Savanier, he received a very orange yellow (52′) and was then taken out when he was the author of a new foul in the heart of the game (67′). The Lille number 10 also left the pitch on bad terms with the locals.
Jonathan David (6,5) : The Canadian had a special match. In great difficulty when he was served during the first act, during which he was the player to lose the most ball on the Lille side, he was clinical against the cages by scoring two penalties (44′, 54′). When you are decisive, it inevitably disrupts the analysis of a copy.
