Julio Enciso inspires rampant Strasbourg to pile pressure on Lille
Lille were hoping to kick-start their 2026 campaign after a difficult run of results, but it was Strasbourg who imposed themselves at the Decathlon Arena, producing a ruthless attacking display to extend the hosts’ woes.
The contest was evenly balanced in the early stages before Lille’s defensive fragility was exposed in the space of a damaging few minutes. Diego Moreira combined neatly with Guéla Doué down the left, the latter delivering a precise cross that Joaquín Panichelli turned home under pressure to open the scoring.
Moments later, Lille were caught cold straight from the restart. Strasbourg sliced through the hosts with a flowing passing move, finished in style by Enciso, who delicately chipped Berke Özer to double the visitors’ advantage.
Strasbourg remained dangerous throughout the first half, Panichelli striking the crossbar with a looping header from a Martial Godo cross, while Lille struggled to regain any rhythm. Boos greeted the half-time whistle at the Decathlon Arena.
Les Dogues showed greater urgency after the break. Olivier Giroud forced Mike Penders into action with a glancing header from Tiago Santos’ cross, while Ngal’ayel Mukau squandered a clear opening from a corner. Just as Lille began to apply sustained pressure, Strasbourg struck again on the counter.
Enciso pulls the strings
Moreira’s whipped effort across the face of goal was turned home by Godo at the far post. After a VAR review, the goal was awarded, extinguishing any hopes of a Lille comeback. Strasbourg then cut through the home defence with ease, Enciso exchanging passes with Godo before setting up the forward for a simple finish.
Matías Fernández-Pardo netted a late consolation in stoppage time, but it did little to disguise a chastening night for Lille, who now see Strasbourg move firmly into contention just behind them in the table.
REaction
Speaking on Ligue 1+, Olivier Giroud described a subdued dressing room and called for unity:
“The dressing room was devastated. There is physical and mental fatigue. In moments like these, we have to stay united. We will only get out of this together.”
Strasbourg midfielder Valentín Barco praised his side’s performance:
“We played a great match on a difficult pitch, against a very good team. If we want to keep progressing, we have to stay focused until the end.”
Lille midfielder Ngal’ayel Mukau admitted the scale of the disappointment:
“It’s a catastrophic result. The fans and the club don’t deserve this. It’s up to us to lift our heads and keep working.”
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