Recap: Haraldsson's Brace Fuels Lille Past Monaco

It's been a tough week for AS Monaco, who were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League by SL Benfica and then lost 2-1 to LOSC Lille on Saturday at Stade Pierre Mauro.

On the contest's opening goal in the 22nd minute, Ngal'ayel Mukau perfectly found Hákon Arnar Haraldsson, who wasn't challenged. The Iceland native charged toward the goal, slipped into the box, and scored with a curling shot.

Haraldsson finished off a brilliant first half with another goal, completing his brace in the 42nd minute. Wilfried Singo, out wide on the left, played a ball to the center for his captain, Denis Zakaria.

The Swiss player couldn’t make anything of it, as he was challenged by an opponent. Haraldsson, receiving the ball in the box, had his first shot saved by Radosław Majecki, but he scored on his second attempt with his right foot.

Lille was minutes away from heading into halftime, but Monaco cut into their lead courtesy of a goal from Takumi Minamino in the first half stoppage time.

After a cross from the left, Maghnes Akliouche headed the ball at the far post. Mika Biereth then pulled off a brilliant backheel to set up Minamino, who finished from close range with his left foot.

In the second half, Monaco recorded nine total shots but couldn't find the equalizer goal to at least leave with a draw. Adi Hütter and his team falling to Les Dogues proved costly as they now drop out of the Champions League spots for next season.

On the other side of the result, the Lille win also allows them to move into the top three automatic Champions League spots for the next campaign.

Lille's Benjamin André spoke to beIN Sports after the match and expressed his thoughts on the game along with the performance from Haraldsson, who recorded his first career brace.

“We mainly closed down the spaces because that’s what this team needs to perform. We were united. It may not have been our usual style of play, but it worked... Hakon’s come back from a long injury. It always takes a bit of time to get back to full fitness, but he’s in great shape now."

The Stat: 23

After the win over Monaco, Bruno Génésio entered an impressive list of LOSC managers with the most points after their first 23 matches on the bench in Ligue 1 McDonald's this century.

Génésio joins René Girard, Paulo Fonseca and Frédéric Antonetti with Antonetti leading the group with 43 points. Girard, Fonseca and Génésio each have 41 points.

Read More:

>>European Draws: PSG-Liverpool and more
>>Recap: Reims Can’t Overcome Early Red Card, Penalty in Loss to Rennes