Ligue 1 2025-26: Veteran Olivier Giroud scores in a stop time to help Lille beat Monaco

Veteran -attacker Olivier Giroud enjoys life back in Ligue 1.

The 38-year-old Frenchman scored again on Sunday and missed a penalty-like Lille took a 1-0 win over Monaco.

The match seemed to go to a scoreless draw when Giroud supplied a low cross of Matias Fernandez-Pardo in a stop time.

Giroud could have double his count in the ninth minute of the stopping time, but sent a penalty over the bar after Fernandez-Pardo was polluted by Monaco defender Christian Mawissa Elebi.

Giroud, who came to Los Angeles FC after a disappointing enchantment, took only 11 minutes to score on his return to Ligue 1 in a 3-3 draw at Brest last week.

Read also | Series A 2025-26: David, Vlahovic on goal as Juventus Parma beats

He previously made his name with AC Milan, Chelsea and Arsenal – the club where he came to Montpellier after winning the French title in 2012 and scoring 21 league goals that season.

Giroud is the leading men’s scorer of France with 57 goals and won the World Cup 2018 with Les Bleus.

Toulouse and Strasbourg continue their positive starts in the season, where both teams took a second consecutive victory without giving a goal.

Frank Magri scored a two half half to help Toulouse to a 2-0 win over Brest, and Emanuel Emegha’s Late goal shot Strasbourg to a 1-0 win over Nantes.

Lens won 2-1 in Le Havre.

Published on August 25, 2025