Giroud ends league scoring drought as Lille moves to fourth in French league

LILLE, France (AP) — Olivier Giroud scored twice and Lille moved to fourth in the French league with a 4-2 come-from-behind home win over Paris FC on Sunday.

Willem Geubbels put the visitors ahead in the 11th minute after Vincent Marchetti’s initial effort took a deflection and hit the post.

Giroud equalized in the 40th after some good work from Osame Sahraoui, who skipped by several defenders. It was Giroud’s first league goal since August.

The former France star might have had another goal just two minutes later, but Kevin Trapp did well to save his effort from point-blank range.

Trapp wasn’t given any respite as Lille pushed for more, and Giroud finally got his second from the penalty spot in the 77th. Marchetti had given it away and the Paris midfielder’s evening went from bad to worse when his attempted clearance of a corner merely served the ball for Aissa Mandi to score Lille’s third in the 80th.

Lohann Doucet pulled one back in the 84th – a minute after going on as a substitute – to set up a frenetic finale until Marius Broholm sealed the result with another penalty in stoppage time.

Lyon’s winless streak stretched to five games across all competitions after failing to beat last-placed Auxerre.

The 0-0 draw could have been worse for the injury and suspension-hit visitors with Dominik Greif saving a penalty from Auxerre’s Lassine Sinayoko in the first half.

That was awarded after Sekou Mara had been bundled over in the area by Moussa Niakhaté. Mara had earlier had a goal ruled out as Auxerre’s goalless run stretched to five games. Auxerre's winless run is now at eight games starting with the 2-0 loss at Paris Saint-Germain.

Mara also went close in the second half, while Lyon’s Afonso Moreira drew a good save from Donovan Leon in stoppage time.

Romain Del Castillo scored a penalty in the 10th minute of stoppage time – five minutes after he'd had another penalty saved – to give Brest a 3-2 win over Metz for its first victory since September.

Nigerian defender Chidozie Awaziem made up for an own-goal in first-half stoppage time by equalizing in second-half stoppage time for Nantes to draw with Lorient 1-1 with both teams fighting relegation. It kept Nantes just ahead of the visitors on goal difference.

Yassin Belkhdim’s early goal was enough for Angers to win at Toulouse 1-0 and draw level with the home team on 16 points.

PSG leads by two points from Marseille after both won this weekend.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Paris FC's goalkeeper Trapp Kevin catches the ball during the French League One soccer match between Lille and Paris FC in Lille, France, Sunday Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Lille's Felix Correia, center left, plays the ball during the French League One soccer match between Lille and Paris FC in Lille, France, Sunday Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Paris FC's Marchetti Vincent, second left, celebrates the opening goal during the French League One soccer match between Lille and Paris FC in Lille, France, Sunday Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Lille's Igamane Hamza, front, plays the ball during the French League One soccer match between Lille and Paris FC in Lille, France, Sunday Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

Lille's Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the French League One soccer match between Lille and Paris FC in Lille, France, Sunday Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.

Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.

Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.

Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.

Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.

Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."

Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.

Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."

Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”

Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.

The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.

Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)