Ageing like fine wine: Giroud shows class to push Lille past Red Star Belgrade
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 27.02.26. | 07:00
The 39-year-old former Arsenal and Chelsea striker netted and led his side to a massive Europa League triumph on Thursday night
It took extra time, plenty of tension and nerve, but most of all, it took Olivier Giroud.
Lille's season was losing direction, and after a 1-0 home loss in the first leg against Red Star Belgrade, the tie seemed out of reach. But in the intense atmosphere of the Rajko Mitic Stadium, Olivier Giroud stepped up.
He led his team to a crucial 2-0 win in Belgrade that could define Lille's season.
39-year-old Olivier Giroud scored four minutes into the second leg to level the UEL KO playoffs tie against Crvena zvezda 🍷
— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 26, 2026
Lille won it in extra time to move on to the round of 16. pic.twitter.com/Uc2U9ccRb8
Benjamin Andre sent in an early cross from the right, and Giroud slipped to the near post, heading the ball in with the instinct that made him France's all-time top scorer.
This goal in Belgrade made him just the seventh player over 35 to score more than 10 goals in major European competitions. He now joins players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferenc Puskas and Robert Lewandowski, among others.
Red Star came back strong after the break, with Marko Arnautovic eager to help Dejan Stankovic's team reach the Europa League last-32. Chances came and went, but Lille held on.
11 - Players to score more than 10 goals after the age of 35 in major European competitions:
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 26, 2026
19 - Aritz Aduriz
18 - Ferenc Puskás
16 - Robert Lewandowski, Edin Dzeko
14 - Cristiano Ronaldo
13 - Alfredo Di Stéfano
11 - 🆕 Olivier Giroud
Timeless. pic.twitter.com/8RUyQlAwsQ
After 180 minutes, the teams were still level, so the match went into extra time. That was when Lille found their chance. Nathan Ngoy scored past Red Star's keeper in the 99th minute. Les Dogues had lost 1-0 to the same opponent earlier in the competition and again at home last Thursday, but this time they got their payback.
Lille stayed strong in Belgrade, and under heavy pressure, Olivier Giroud provided the spark that could reignite their season.
UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - PLAYOFFS
Return leg
Thursday
Red Star - Lille 0-2 a.e.t (0-1)
/Giroud 4, Ngoy 99/
Lille win 2-1 on agg
Ferencvaros - Ludogorets 2-0 (2-0)
/Kanichowsky 13, Zachariassen 30/
Ferencvaros win 3-2 on agg
Stuttgart - Celtic 0-1 (0-1)
/McCowan 1/
Stuttgart win 4-2 on agg
Plzen - Panathinaikos 1-1 (0-1)
/Spacil 62 - Tetteh 9/
Panathinaikos win 4-3 on pen
Bologna - Brann 1-0 (0-0)
/Joao Mario 56/
Bologna win 2-0 on agg
Celta - PAOK 1-0 (0-0)
/Swedberg 63/
Celta win 3-1 on agg
Genk - Dinamo Zagreb 3-3 a.e.t (0-1)
/Sor 50, Ito 100, Heymans 114 - Bakrar 45+2, Stojkovic 57 pen, 75/
Genk win 6-4 on agg
Nottingham Forest - Fenerbahce 1-2 (0-1)
/Huddson-Odoi 68 - Akturkoglu 22, 48 pen/
Nottingham Forest win 4-2 on agg