Diligent and solid, Lille achieved the feat of beating Real Madrid by a score of 1-0 in its favorite competition, the Champions League, at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday during the second day of the league phase.
In Villeneuve-d’Ascq, the fifteen trophies of the most prestigious European competition between clubs, including that of last season, which adorn Real’s immense prize list, did not weigh so heavily against Losc, concentrated from start to finish. ends to write one of the greatest lines in its history. Real had not lost in 36 matches in all competitions.
Neither Vinicius, or Jude Bellingham, to name a few, managed to reverse the result of a match which was decided just before half-time, with a penalty from Jonathan David during added time of the first half.
Neither did the entry into play in the 58th minute of Kylian Mbappé. Having quickly recovered from discomfort in his left thigh in order to set foot on a French pitch with the White House jersey for the first time since his departure from Paris Saint-Germain, the captain of the French team was booed by a large part of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
At kick-off, Carlo Ancelotti preferred Endrick, who, at 18 years and 73 days, became the youngest player to wear the Madrid jersey in this competition according to statistician Opta.
Even Ancelotti, one of the greatest master strategists in world football, could not find the solution. Opposite, Bruno Genesio succeeded in his bet by starting five professional defenders for a composition that appears prudent, but is in reality daring.
The plans of « Pep » Genesio
The 58-year-old coach opted for a four-man defense in the defensive phase, with the usual left-back Mitchel Bakker positioned just above Gabriel Gudmundsson, who often slipped into a five-man to allow two-man takes on the wings.
The Brazilians Vinicius and Endrick were well contained. Beyond this pattern, Lille moved as a team, forming a generally compact block to reduce spaces.
In addition to the plan, some players raised their level to the height of the event, such as central defender Alexsandro, winger Edon Zhegrova, captain Benjamin André. In the midfield, young Ayyoub Bouaddi celebrated his 17th birthday with a performance full of maturity, despite a few slags.
The northern club built their victory at the end of the first period, when they obtained a penalty thanks to a handball from Eduardo Camavinga following a free kick from Zhegrova.
Scorer Jonathan David converted it with composure and precision to put his partners on the path to a great moment.
After a first act in which Real played poorly, often swinging long balls out of spite that failed to find a taker, they increased their pressure in the second.
The prospect of seeing the Merengue club overturn the match, as it did so much in recent years as it wrote the history of European football, then grew to the point of sending shivers down the spine. spans of Pierre-Mauroy.
But Lucas Chevalier was there to reassure them: after a miracle from Tiago Santos, who saved a ball on his line (86th), the goalkeeper made several great saves (87th, 90th) until the deliverance.
After losing in Lisbon against Sporting (2-0) on the first day, Losc launched onto the European scene, at the end of a memorable evening.
Liverpool overthrow another Italian club
Liverpool and their artist Mohamed Salah dominated Bologna 2-0 on the second day of the Champions League on Wednesday, achieving a new success against an Italian club after that of 3-1 in Milan a fortnight ago.
After a subtle assist for Alexis Mac Allister (in the 11th minute), the Egyptian star of the Reds himself hit the nail on the head in the 75th minute with a superb left-footed shot into the opposite corner.
With the heavy task of replacing idol Jürgen Klopp as coach, Arne Slot made his debut with the Reds perfectly, both on the European and domestic scene, leading the Premier League ahead of Manchester City after six days.
If the ranking of 36 teams in this phase of the new format continental league does not yet mean much, Liverpool is still a hit, which is not the case, for example, for Guardiola’s City (4 pts) or Real Madrid (3 pts), beaten by Lille on Wednesday.
However, it was Bologna who thought they would surprise Liverpool from the start by cooling down the whole of Anfield with Thijs Dallinga’s goal but, launched deep behind the central hinge Konaté – van Dijk, the Dutchman was offside (9th).
As in Milan, trailing from the first minutes before taking the lead, Liverpool did not panic. And it was the English who opened the scoring, through Mac Allister, ideally served by Mo Salah in front of goal. At the heart of the red game, the Argentine no. 10 was also at the origin of the action leading to the goal, breaking the first Italian defensive line with a one-two with Dominik Szoboszlai.
Liverpool thought about doubling the score directly, but Nunez’s goal was also canceled for offside (16th).
To stay in the lead, Liverpool counted on its goalkeeper Allison Becker against Urbanski (33rd) or Orsolini (56th), or on its uprights, when the Swiss Dan Ndoye found the bar and the post (28th, 32nd).
Rarely in danger in the second period, Liverpool made the break through Salah, who created his own goal, a marvel of curling shot.
After this Italian opening, Liverpool will continue with two German clubs, Leipzig then Leverkusen.
Qualified thanks to a 5th place in Serie A last season, Bologna began their European campaign with a sad 0-0 at home against Shakhtar Donetsk. The Emilia-Romagna team is also in difficulty in the championship.
Griezmann and Atlético overthrown
Unrecognizable, Antoine Griezmann’s Atlético Madrid took on water on Wednesday in Lisbon on Benfica’s pitch, losing 4 to 0 during the second day of the Champions League, confirming its enormous difficulties in winning the outside.
Future opponent of Lille and Paris Saint-Germain, Atlético, unable to score a single shot, logically lost at the end of a match totally controlled by the conquering Portuguese and supported by their audience.
The Dragons opened the scoring with the Turk Kerem Akturkoglu (13th) then unfolded in the second half thanks to three goals from the former Parisian Angel Di Maria (52nd), the Dane Alexander Bah (75th) and the other Turkish international Orkun Kokcu (84th).
For his first match since the shock announcement of his international retirement with the Blues at the age of 33, Antoine Griezmann came out at half-time.
Quarter-finalist last year, the rojiblanco club has won only one of its last ten away matches in C1 (at Feyenoord, 3-1).
With two successes in two matches, Benfica (3rd) joins Brest (2nd) and Dortmund (1st) at the head of this unique group, where only the first eight will qualify directly for the round of 16.
Aston Villa knocks out Bayern Munich
The English Aston Villa, cornered for a long time, brought down Bayern Munich (1-0) on Wednesday, repeating during the second day of the Champions League the earthquake of their surprise coronation in the 1982 final against the German giant.
The Birmingham club, after 41 years of absence, was giggling with impatience at the time of re-tasting the joys of greater Europe at Villa Park, carried by its enthusiastic supporters.
The reunion ended in the euphoria of a late victory, marked by impeccable defensive solidarity, an avalanche of English injuries, a spoilsport VAR and a goal from elsewhere.
Colombian super-sub Jhon Duran, at the age of 20, surprised Dayot Upamecano and Manuel Neuer with a magnificent instant recovery in the 79th minute, nine minutes after replacing center forward Ollie Watkins.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez secured Villa’s memorable triumph with a decisive save from Harry Kane in added time, having already warmed his gloves several times before.
This is a serious setback for Bayern under new coach Vincent Kompany, beaten for the first time this season, two weeks after tormenting Dinamo Zagreb (9-2).
Conversely, Unai Emery’s Villans struck a big blow, even stronger than the initial 3-0 inflicted on the Young Boys of Bern.
They did honor to their elders from 1981-1982, crowned in the European Champion Clubs’ Cup (the ancestor of the Champions League) after a final that entered into local legend against Bayern of Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Paul Breitner, completed on the same score.
Multiple changes
As expected, Bayern took the game into their own hands with repeated passes and permanent projections forward, as if the cage of “Dibu” Martinez had the properties of a powerful magnet.
But the Argentinian goalkeeper did not have to display his talent too much, facing a German domination that was ultimately quite sterile.
Among his feats of arms, however, an impeccable reflex save in front of Kane (6th), signaled offside, and a beautiful flight to deflect a strike from Michael Olise (39th), Bayern’s thrilling recruit in the off-season.
Aston Villa adopted a cautious defensive tactic, relying on their skill in counterattacks.
The plan put in place by Unai Emery even produced a goal, after a candle in the area from Lucas Digne exploited by Pau Torres. But it was canceled for an offside detected on video (22nd), enough to frustrate the supporters, including Prince William, in the stands.
The “Villans” played with their more limited weapons, and they also had to manage several unforeseen events: Jacob Ramsey came out injured quickly, his replacement Leon Bailey also had to be replaced at the hour mark, like Amadou Onana, he too diminished.
The final scenario, enhanced by Duran, gives even more relief to the English exploit.
Along the way, they stopped Bayern’s very long invincibility in the first round of the Champions League (41 matches): the Rekordmeister with six continental stars had not lost at this stage of the tournament since September 2017 in Paris (3-0 ).
The rest of his European journey takes him to Barcelona on October 23, before hosting Benfica then Paris Saint-Germain at the Allianz Arena, host stadium for the 2025 final.
Monaco snatches a draw
Monaco, long trailing 2-0, managed to snatch a 2-2 draw at Dinamo Zagreb on Wednesday during the second day of the Champions League.
The players of the Principality, who remained in seven matches without defeat, including six victories, counting that against Barcelona (2-1) on the first day, equalized by Mohammed Salisu (74th) and Denis Zakaria (89th), on a waterlogged field and in pouring rain. Dinamo, crushed by Bayern 9-2 on the first day, scored through Petar Sucic and Martin Baturina.
Related News :