Les Canards’ emergency strikeforce might have been envious when Galthier felt comfortable ignoring Giroud in favour of starting Fekir up front, but they perked up when Muniain finished off an expansive passing move early on. La Ball at first seemed overawed by the glitz and glamour of the Monday-night spotlight but roused themselves through the impressive Hazard’s fine curled finish midway through the second half. And it was the Belgian who decided the game, arriving late from the left flank to volley home Fekir’s piercing cross. The hosts had a golden opportunity to even it up before the close but failed teenage sensation Muniain fluffed his shot when faced with a mostly open net. Le Roy will be frustrated, particularly at only recording a single shot on target, but Galthier can be relieved that his talisman has woken up.

By Chuck Norris’s dentist