One is Canadian and the other Kosovar – two modest footballing nations – which does not prevent them from carrying LOSC in the Champions League on their shoulders. The first, Jonathan David, is a modern scorer, one of those who run fast and score a lot when they are successful. The second, Edon Zhegrova, is an old-fashioned player, “a thrill player” like a pocket winger who tortures defenders when he wants to.
The infernal Lille duo shone again against Juventus Turin, Tuesday November 5, during the Northerners' draw against Juventus Turin (1-1), the third juggernaut faced consecutively in four Champions League matches. Thanks to them, LOSC emerges undefeated from a dizzying triptych: Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
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A little before the half-hour mark, Edon Zhegrova slalomed through the middle of the Turinese, like a tightrope walker on a wire, leaving his opposite number, the Colombian Juan Cabal, before sending a masterful pass to Jonathan David in depth. The speedy striker, with nerves of steel, did not tremble to score the first goal of the match.
Ten of eleven Lille goals for the duo
A fortnight ago, the two accomplices had already been the main architects of the Mastiffs' success on the pitch at Atletico Madrid. Coming on in the second period, Edon Zhegrova equalized with a wonderful curling shot before Jonathan David scored a double (3-1). During the second day, it was the latter who converted, against Real Madrid, the victorious penalty in stoppage time in the first period. A success which erased a failed start in Lisbon, punished by a clear defeat against Sporting (2-0).
Without them, Lille would perhaps not even have reached this unique group of 36 teams, a novelty of this new formula of the prestigious competition. During the qualifying round and play-off this summer (Fenerbahce and Slavia Prague), the infernal duo scored five of their team's six goals, with the Canadian even adding two assists. Since Lille began their European campaign on August 8, only one of their goals has not been scored by the two of them, that against their side by the Istanbul defender, Jayden Oosterwolde.
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And yet, the two strong men of Bruno Genesio's team could have left the north of France during the summer transfer window. David had an exit voucher and thought he could target a major continental club, six years after his arrival in Europe and after four seasons at LOSC, where he scored almost a hundred goals. Ultimately, no concrete offer came for the 24-year-old talent, a blessing for the Mastiffs.
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