Just a little more effort. Marked by several brilliant blows against Real Madrid (1-0), Atlético de Madrid (1-3) and Juventus (1-1), Lille’s campaign in the Champions League is going almost without a hitch. After a catastrophic start to September, with four defeats in a row including one in C1 at Sporting CP (2-0), Lille went 11 games without defeat (six wins and five draws), series in progress. Result: a fourth place in L 1 and 14th in C 1 with seven points, before going to Bologna on Wednesday evening (9 p.m.).
According to statistician Opta, a team has a 69% chance of qualifying for the play-offs with nine points in this new formula, 99% with ten. Qualification for the play-offs for the round of 16 (the first 24) is getting closer before, perhaps, moving up the rankings to join the eight best ranked, who will move directly to the round of 16. “We know that in the event of a victory, it would practically be done,” admitted goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier.
Opponent of Losc on Wednesday evening, Bologna has lost its splendor since last season. Only eighth in Serie A, Thiago Motta’s ex-club – who left to coach Juventus this summer – got off to a bad start in the Champions League with just one point collected (0-0 against Shakhtar Donetsk) and no goals scored.
The Monegasques thus won (0-1) in Emilia-Romagna during the previous day. “I feel the match is very complicated,” confides Chevalier. The context is not going to be easy, with a team that has not yet won in the competition, a one-for-one tactic, Italian style. »
Zhegrova is there
Northern coach Bruno Genesio will still be without Angel Gomes, who did not play on Sunday against Stade Rennais (1-0), but he will however be able to count on his nugget Edon Zhegrova. The Kosovar was released on Sunday after an adductor injury.
“We have confidence and we have the return of players who will be able to bring freshness when we play very high-level matches every three days, that will allow me to have a very competitive team with perhaps a few changes at kickoff, says Genesio. We know the Italian teams, it will be an intense and committed match. »
