An excellent collective match enhanced by an unexpected double from Ngalayel Mukau allowed Lille to bring back three points from Bologna. The qualification attempt is well advanced, and the Mastiffs could even aim for a place in the Top 8 of the Champions League at this rate.
Perhaps a decisive moment for the Lille OSC in the Champions League. A first half of the campaign with two impressive successes against the two Madrid teams propelled Lille as candidates for the Top 8. To validate this state of affairs, it was necessary to bring back a result of Bologna, and at the same time destroy the qualification ambitions of the Italians.
And the Northerners took the meeting the right way, notably Jonathan David who quickly armed a first strike (4th). But at the first opportunity, Bologna found the target through a certain Thijs Dallingathe former Toulouse player keeping company with the Lille defense to deceive Lucas Chevalier. But fortunately VAR came to the rescue of LOSC. A hell of a scare.
Enough to put Lille on its guard, and the Mastiffs returned to the fight, failing to find the fault when Alexsandro saw his head hit the post (13th). The debates were then balanced, Lille being in place in the middle but crumbly on the sides, Dan Ndoye sending several shivers through the surface. Problem, apart from a keystroke Ngalayel Mukaufew opportunities for LOSC while the match suffered from slow times.
In the absence of Edon Zhegrovaon the bench, Lille had difficulty producing play. The individual solution, however, failed to bear fruit when Mathias Fernandez-Pardo offered himself a ride of more than 50 meters but missed his finish (40th). It was on a twist of fate – a Bolognese restart on his teammate – that Jonathan David found Ngalayel Mukauwho tried twice but was finally wrong Lukasz Skorupski (45th). Enough to return to the locker room with a smile.
And upon resumption, Mathias Fernandez-Pardo was close to doubling the stake, demonstrating Lille's desire to make the break as quickly as possible. Especially since the defense was on point, often trapping the Bolognese in an offside trap. The second goal really heated up on a new ride, this time signed Gabriel Gudmundssonwho nevertheless still missed the last gesture (55th).
But Bologna remained dangerous in episodes, which forced Chevalier to pull out all the stops in front Dallinga. Unfortunately, the doorman could do nothing when John Lucumi ahead of a Thomas Meunier asleep and shook the nets at close range (63rd). Fortunately, the doubt did not last long, since Fernandez-Pardo, decidedly untenable, still affected the Bolognese defense and served Ngalayel Mukauwho doubled the lead while in control (66th).
Bologna was on a wire, and a fabulous rescue was needed from Skorupski to avoid a shipwreck. The doorman then produced a monstrous double parade in front of Fernandez-Pardo Then David to maintain Bolognese chances. We began to fear when the Pole also intervened in front Ayyoub Bouaddi (83rd), the failure to score this third goal during a period of intense domination exposing Lille to late disillusionment.
Fortunately, that won't be the case. Bologna will regain control of the ball, but the moments of thrill will ultimately be few in number in the Lille defense. LOSC wins 1-2 on Italian soil, and if he is in 12th place this evening, he has the same number of points as 6th. A place in the Top 8 is therefore totally possible, and for the play-offs, the situation is more than favorable. Another high-flying evening for Lille in the Champions League, it's less and less of a surprise…
