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Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 32, 03/05/2026
Hákon Arnar Haraldsson’s opener for Lille OSC would be cancelled out by Issa Soumaré as Le Havre AC held their hosts to a 1-1 draw.
The Match
Le Havre weren’t quite safe from relegation as they travelled to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy this afternoon. A win would do them a serious favour in the battle at the bottom, but they would have to reverse a run of nine games without a win.
There were signs of life from the visitors in the opening exchanges as Mbwana Samatta was found in the box. The striker juggled the ball to create a sight of goal, but slipped as he pulled the trigger. Issa Soumaré would minutes later appeal for a penalty when he went shoulder to shoulder with Ayyoub Bouaddi, but it was clear he was trying to make the most of minimal contact.
Lille would heed the warning and ramp up the pressure, as the red shirts lined up to take shots at Mory Diaw’s goal. Hákon Arnar Haraldsson would hit the woodwork from distance, while Gautier Lloris would prevent Félix Correia from making the most of Matias Fernandez-Pardo’s inviting pass across goal. It felt merely a matter of time before Lille would find the back of the net.
It would come in the 29th minute when Romain Perraud cut inside from the left and disguised a pass into the box. Fernandez-Pardo would intelligently leave the ball, making space for Haraldsson with a dummy run to collect the ball and poke his effort home. Lille would relax and minutes later be punished as Soumaré drifted into the box unmarked to head home an equaliser.
Minutes into the second half, Haraldsson would have his shot saved onto the woodwork. The Icelandic international was in his full pomp in attack, setting up Fernandez-Pardo for what should have been the second, but the striker was unable to aim his shot on target. Lille flooded forward with every attack, leaving space on the counter for Le Havre.
Despite their attacking intentions, Lille’s intensity faded in the second half. The opportunity to gain a lead on European rivals Olympique Lyonnais and Stade Rennais was lost ahead of the two playing taking points off each other later tonight. Lille would go provisionally third until this evening.
Lille Player Ratings
Berke Özer, 6
Romain Perraud, 6
An assist for the former Southampton man. He offered far more going forward than he did in defence, with Le Havre occasionally finding space to attack down his flank before he had time to recover from his position high up on the pitch. Replaced in the second half by Calvin Verdonk.
Aïssa Mandi, 5
Nathan Ngoy, 5
Thomas Meunier, 5
Benjamin André, 5
Ayyoub Bouaddi, 7
Félix Correia, 6
A lively start from a winger who has flourished following a long stint in the starting eleven. He looked to be the most threatening of the attackers in the first half and was unlucky not to put his name on the scoresheet. He’s begun to develop a brilliant understanding with his teammates, and he took up a fluid and roaming role. His involvement did fade somewhat in the second half. Replaced in the second half by Olivier Giroud.
Hákon Arnar Haraldsson, 7
The heartbeat of the attack for much of the game. He managed to find the back of the net and hit the woodwork twice. He would have gotten a higher rating, but he was caught lacking in the Le Havre equaliser. The midfielder left Soumaré alone, meaning the forward had space to drift unmarked into the box.
Ngal’ayel Mukau, 5
Matias Fernandez-Pardo, 6
He’s made the no. 9 role his own following Hamza Igamane’s injury and Olivier Giroud’s drop-off in performances. He still tends to have this frustrating urge to make the wrong decision with his final ball, but that is a far rarer occurrence than it used to be. Although he didn’t touch the ball in Lille’s opener, his movement and intelligence to create space for Haraldsson was a sign of the player he’s on the journey of becoming.
Selected Le Havre Player Ratings
Mory Diaw, 7
Gautier Lloris, 7
Issa Soumaré, 6
GFFN | Nick Hartland
