The context
2025, here they come again! 24 days after their last match at the Decathlon Arena Stade Pierre Mauroy, the Dogues will return to the competition and with it, their public, eager to see the game, football and shows at home again. In these cold first days of January, it is FC Nantes which presents itself against LOSC, thus opening the very busy month of January in Lille (7 matches). On the ground, Bruno Genesio must notably deal with the suspension of Mitchel Bakker and the withdrawal of Edon Zhegrova. It is therefore the attacking trio Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Rémy Cabella, Hakon Haraldsson who take their place in support of Jonathan David.
The match
It all starts with a hard blow for LOSC. Probably hit in the ankle on a nasty Cozza sole from the start, Matias Fernandez-Pardo must give way early to Osame Sahraoui (10′). This is the only notable element of the start of a particularly poor game. However, Lille dominated their host quite clearly. They logically get the first opportunity. Remy Cabella Center. At point blank range from 6 meters, Benjamin André, surprised, missed his header then saw his recovery pushed back by Lopes (25′). LOSC recovers the ball quite high and quickly carries it into the Nantes camp, but fails to improve it against a very dense and well-organized opposing block. We are heading towards a bland 0-0 at the break when Rémy Cabella rolls into the heart of the surface. His shot, sublime, crashes onto the bar. At the far post, Gaby Gudmundsson follows the trajectory perfectly and finishes with a flat foot into the opposite net (1-0, 41′). It’s deserved.
Lille is picked cold from the start. Ganago scores from close range after a scramble in the northern area (48′). The goal was finally canceled after consulting the VAR for an offside position. A free warning for the Mastiffs who regain possession of the ball, but who make a second error. On a Nantes offensive, Bafodé Diakité very lightly hangs on Mohamed. Penalty, which Abline transforms (1-1, 70′). André Gomes and Ismaily (77′), then Thomas Meunier (86′) are launched into the game. But the end of the game lacked rhythm, the Mastiffs failed to ignite the debates despite a final thrill from Rémy Cabella on the right, well saved by Lopes (90’+1). Unfortunately we won’t go any further, Lille and Nantes part back to back to start the year.
This draw, however, brings LOSC’s (ongoing) invincibility series to 18, in all competitions combined. The Mastiffs are now only one match away from equaling their all-time record.
The man
Remy Cabella. Positioned in the right lane of the attack, Rémy Cabella was particularly impactful, present in all Lille offensives. The altruistic number 10 would have deserved to score the first goal of the year 2025 on his love of curling which finally crashed on the bar before Gaby Gudmundsson improved it by opening the score.
The wink
He never stops beating stats and minds. Jonathan David received his UNFP Player of the Month trophy for December 2024 before the match in Ligue 1 McDonald’s. A deserved reward for the Canadian striker, author of a fantastic first part of the season.
The sequel
What’s next? It won’t be long before she arrives. From this Friday (9 p.m.), the Mastiffs will go to Auxerre before traveling to Marseille in the Coupe de France, Tuesday January 14 (9:10 p.m.).
The match sheet
LOSC-FC Nantes 1-1 (1-0)
Saturday January 4, 2025, 7 p.m. – 14th day of Ligue 1 McDonald’s
Decathlon Arena Stade Pierre Mauroy (roof closed) – 41,635 spectators
Referee: M.Pignard
Buts : Gudmundsson (41′), for LOSC; Abline (70′ sp)
Warnings: Cozza (72′), Castelletto (88′) for Nantes; Haraldsson (77′) for LOSC
LOSC: Chevalier – Mandi (Meunier, 86′), Diakité, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson (Ismaily, 77′) – Mukau (André Gomes, 77′), André (c) – Fernandez-Pardo, Cabella, Haraldsson – David
Coach : Bruno Genesio
FC Nantes: Lopes – Cozza, Castelleto, Zeze, Amian – Chirivella (c) (Mohamed, 63′), Douglas Augusto, Lepenant (Gbamin, 90’+2) – Ganago (Coco, 82′), Thomas, Abline (Pallois, 90′ +2)
Coach : Antoine Kombouare
