Madrid pleases Lille. Three weeks after their resounding feat against Real Madrid (1-0), the Mastiffs achieved another big blow this Wednesday by dominating the other club in the Spanish capital, Atlético. Despite a rejuvenated team and total domination of the Madrilenians, Bruno Génésio’s men found the resources to turn around a very poorly started match and achieved a second success in this Champions League, taking advantage in particular of a particularly discreet Antoine Griezmann.
However, for a long time we believed that the youth bet, made by the northern coach, was missed. With Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Ngalayel Mukau and Ousmane Touré, all three 19 years old and starters, we could also estimate that the technician had taken insane risks for a meeting that was nevertheless delicate. After ten minutes of play, it was difficult to draw another assessment since the third city was guilty of a catastrophic back pass which led to Julian Alvarez opening the score in the 8th minute.
But Lille held on. United defensively, despite the few balls touched, the Mastiffs tried to contain the Madrid waves without breaking. Lucas Chevalier, hero of the match against Real Madrid, was once again decisive, notably on a point-blank header from José Maria Gimenez from a corner. Little by little, thanks in particular to the entry of Edon Zhegrova, who came into play following Rémy Cabella’s injury, Lille regained a bit of madness and offensive drive, without however being dangerous.
Zhegrova’s jewel, David’s double
“We put them a little in what they know how to do best,” regretted Benjamin André at the microphone of Canal + after the victory. We played restarts to be pressed, we quickly lost the ball, we didn’t have too many solutions. » But the story was already secretly in progress. Returning from the locker room, Bruno Génésio decided to add a little experience to his team with the entry of Bafodé Diakité in place of Ousmane Touré who was in great difficulty. A beautiful inspiration.
More in control, Lille then created more chances, until Edon Zhegrova equalized. Shifted to the left side by Thomas Meunier, the Kosovar fired a superb left-footed shot, deflected by Gimenez, who deceived Oblak (61st). And launched an incredible and difficult to predict comeback.
Destiny then did the rest. In the 71st minute, on a free kick given by Zhegrova, the referee of the match, the Italian Marco Guida, pointed to the penalty point. If it was Lille’s Benjamin André who seemed to have touched the ball with his hand, the VAR indeed validated the official’s decision. “I try to attack the ball, it bounces, I put my foot when the Spaniard tries to clear and he catches my foot,” explained the midfielder after the match. Whatever the case, Jonathan David was quick to give his team the advantage and launch one of the heists of the century.
The last ten minutes were stifling. A strike from Samuel Lino after a superb individual action was first diverted by Chevalier, before Aleksandro saved his team with his left knee from a strike from Diego Simeone’s son, Giuliano. In the 90th minute, Jonathan David finally killed all the suspense by being at the conclusion of a confusing action, sealing a “totally deserved” victory, according to Olivier Létang, the president of LOSC, undoubtedly overcome by emotion and not completely lucid . But his Lille does indeed have six points and two exploits in his European bag, and the party should be great.
