LOSC 1-0 FC Metz

THE MATCH

All eyes were on new strike pairing Jonathan David and Burak Yilmaz for Lille here, with both players looking for their first goals since arriving in French football. However, it was another disappointing afternoon for David in particular, with the €27 million buy from Gent looking off the pace and squandering his one clear sight of goal, shooting straight at Metz ‘keeper Alexandre Oukidja in the first half.

David had been taken off by the time the goal arrived in the 88th minute, with one of Lille coach Christophe Galtier’s substitutes making the difference. Brazilian forward Araújo had come on for the tiring Jonathan Ikoné quarter of an hour before he arrived in the penalty area to meet a Domagoj Bradaric cutback with a first-time strike that Oukidja could only help on its way into the net.

Lille will feel they deserved the breakthrough after having most of the pressure against a Metz side who set out to frustrate their hosts by lining up with a back five and packing the centre of midfield.

Early let-off

The home side possibly should have scored sooner, with Oukidja’s fingertips preventing David from meeting a Yilmaz cross late in the first half and Ikoné firing wide just before the interval. Bamba came close as LOSC turned up the heat at the start of the second half, while referee Jérémie Pignard later gave the home side a penalty for a handball only to correctly change his mind after a VAR review. Oukidja also kept out a Yilmaz free-kick eight minutes from time.

Nevertheless, this game could have turned out very differently had Metz gone ahead early on. There was a major let-off for Lille inside four minutes when a Matthieu Udol cross came off José Fonte’s leg and looped over goalkeeper Mike Maignan’s head and onto the bar.

Lille did just enough though, and now have seven points from a possible nine, while Metz are still looking for their first point and goal of the new campaign before heading to Paris Saint-Germain in midweek.

THE PLAYER: Luiz Araújo

The Brazilian was again used off the bench in the second half here, just as he had been in his side’s opening two matches against Stade Rennais FC and Stade de Reims. It is a role he has become used to under Galtier but he showed here how effective he can be and perhaps merits consideration for a starting berth next weekend in Marseille, especially with Jonathan David again toiling up front for Lille against Metz.

THE STAT: 10

Lille have now recorded 10 clean sheets at home since the start of last season, more than any other team (PSG had nine over the same period coming into the weekend).