Martial Godo delivered a ruthless reminder of RC Strasbourg’s growing confidence, scoring twice to headline a crushing 4-1 victory over LOSC Lille and extend the hosts’ miserable run to five straight defeats in all competitions.
On a night when Lille needed stability and belief, it was the Cote to d’Ivoire U23 international’s composure and timing that turned a difficult away fixture into a statement win for an increasingly assured Strasbourg side.
The opening stages at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy were cautious, with little to separate the teams beyond an ambitious Olivier Giroud overhead kick that drifted harmlessly wide.
Lille, buoyed by an eight-match home unbeaten run against Strasbourg, appeared settled until a sudden lapse changed the tone of the contest. Within two minutes, Strasbourg struck twice, first through Joaquin Panichelli and then Julio Enciso, leaving the home side stunned and chasing the game.
Lille responded with urgency, probing down the flanks and forcing saves at both ends, yet their momentum lacked precision. Chances came and went, and while Berke Özer and Mike Penders were both tested, it was Strasbourg who retained clarity in key moments.
That control proved decisive shortly after the break when Godo arrived to apply the finishing touch to Diego Moreira’s delivery, chesting the ball over the line to make it 3-0 and effectively puncture Lille’s resistance.
If the first goal was about awareness, Godo’s second was pure striker’s instinct. Timing his run perfectly, he met Enciso’s cross with a simple tap-in, compounding Lille’s defensive disarray and underlining Strasbourg’s efficiency.
In the space of one decisive spell, Godo transformed a competitive contest into a rout, silencing the home crowd and reinforcing Strasbourg’s status as one of Ligue 1’s most dangerous emerging sides.
Lille managed a late consolation through Matias Fernandez-Pardo, but it did little to disguise the scale of the defeat or their growing problems. They have now slipped out of the top four, failed to score in three successive league games, and find themselves four points behind Olympique Lyonnais.
For Strasbourg, unbeaten in eight and thriving under Gary O’Neil, Godo’s brace was emblematic of a youthful squad playing with freedom and belief.
