Olivier Giroud is expected to lead the Lille attack for their Champions League opener against Real Betis at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Tuesday, 8 September, according to the predicted XI published by Get French Football News two days before kick-off.
The 39-year-old will turn 40 on 30 September, and a Champions League start against a Manuel Pellegrini side would be a notable marker of longevity. The line-up is a prediction, however, not a confirmed team sheet from Ancelotti’s staff.
Ancelotti’s first European night at Lille
Davide Ancelotti, the 36-year-old son of Carlo Ancelotti, signed a two-year contract with Lille on 2 June 2026 after the club parted with Bruno Genesio. It is his second permanent head-coach role after a five-month spell at Botafogo, and his first European tie in charge.
Lille president Olivier Létang said the appointment reflected the coach’s “rigour, energy, maturity and experience”. Ancelotti spent the years from 2016 to 2025 as assistant to his father at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Real Madrid.
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Ancelotti has publicly praised his opposite number this week, calling Pellegrini “incredible” and saying the Chilean “deserves more recognition” for his longevity in the game.
From Montpellier to Los Angeles to Lille
Giroud confirmed his return to French football on 30 June 2025, signing for Lille after mutually parting with LAFC. It was his first Ligue 1 club since Montpellier, where he lifted the 2011-12 title before moving to Arsenal.
He explained the decision at the time.
“I think this club ticked a lot of boxes for me and for my family,” Giroud said.
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His MLS spell yielded a U.S. Open Cup with LAFC but only five goals in 38 appearances, and he described the fit as awkward.
“I didn’t really fit to maybe the game style,” he said.
“We did not use the cross a lot, which is my main strength in the box.”
His debut Ligue 1 season back in France yielded seven league goals in 30 appearances and 11 across all competitions, enough to make him Lille’s leading scorer in 2025-26.
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A CV built for European nights
The trophy list Giroud brings into Tuesday’s fixture is unusually long. He won the 2018 World Cup with France, the 2021 Champions League and the 2019 Europa League with Chelsea, four FA Cups in England, and the 2021-22 Serie A title with AC Milan. In November 2022 he overtook Thierry Henry as France’s all-time top scorer, finishing his international career on 57 goals in 137 caps.
Hamza Igamane, still recovering from an ACL injury sustained at the Africa Cup of Nations, is the only confirmed absentee in the Lille squad. Ayase Ueda is expected to start on the bench behind Giroud.
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