The new Champions This continues to leave the same matchups between great teams against inferior teams… and also the same surprises as every year. The format has changed, now everything is more complicated, but football still continues to do its job. And if not, ask him Real Madrid, who against all odds bent the knee before the Lille in a horrible game.
The whites did not meet at any time. Neither Endrick’s momentum in his first start, nor the timely changes of Carlo Ancelotti While waiting for the reaction, they were enough for the European champion to come out of his lethargy.
A completely banal first half in which Lille scored the last goal from the penalty spot already in added time, gave way to a second in which the picture did not improve. Real Madrid, who still had very clear last chances Bellingham or Güler, He comes out resigned to experiencing his first defeat in this new Champions League.
Lille players celebrate the victory against Real Madrid.
REUTERS
The most absolute nothing
Ugly. The match was ugly from the first minute. As if still hungover or in shock from what happened during last weekend’s derby, where the victory was decided in added time outside of extra-sporting, Real Madrid looked very listless in France.
For the first time in Europe, Ancelotti gave him the alternative to Endrick, but the Brazilian was unable to take advantage of this property. Your compatriot Vinicius was the man responsible for giving the first serious warning of the match, with a right-footed shot from the front of the area that forced Knight make a great effort to avoid the goal.
In reality, it was nothing more than Real Madrid’s attack in the first half, and it says very little about what the White team did during an entire Champions League match. It is true that during certain periods Ancelotti’s men took possession of the ball, but it was of no use because Lille had no reason to regret any fear.
The minutes passed in the game with more pain than glory, and neither team managed to take clear control. There was a sort of tense calm, as if the two were playing a game of waiting, delaying, and seeing if the person in front of them would make a mistake.
In this oasis, Endrick wanted to release calm. With an impressive run, he crosses the field from right to left, dodges all the rivals who come his way, enters the area and meets Chevalier at the moment of the shot. This was the clearest opportunity. A spark from this young footballer who, it seems, will bring a lot of joy to Real Madrid in the years to come.
However, little by little, Lille regained ground. The French wanted to offer something more to their fans, and they were about to achieve it thanks to an unbeatable double chance from David. To avoid an announced goal, it appeared Lunine, starter to replace the injured Courteous, it must be remembered that he is still a classy goalkeeper.
It looked like the first part was going to end without a sound. However, Lille had oil. In a foul that was heading towards the goal, Camavinga put his hands in the path of the ball and, although the referee initially let him continue, he immediately stopped play to indicate that the action was under review.
It seemed clear, so the referee pointed to the penalty spot after watching the action on the monitor. David, with calm and quality, deceived Lunin and killed the first half with the score 1-0.
Madrid, all the way
After a dull first half with no vital signs, we expected a reaction to match that of Real Madrid. Ancelotti even moved the bench and brought in Fran García, but it had no effect.
The game followed the same storyline. The Whites regained the ball, it’s true, but they barely managed to get into the area of a comfortable Lille. Even the French allowed themselves the luxury of launching a counterattack, like the one led by Zhegrova or the one led later by David.
In the final moments of the match, Real Madrid began to wear Lille more and more. The Whites entered the area more frequently and Carvajal almost equalized with a header after Vinicius’ cross from the left side.
Since White didn’t give up until the referee’s whistle, they still had two resounding chances to equalize. First by Bellingham, who inside the small area forced Lille to serve between the posts, then with a header from Güler too centered when he had everything in his favor.
