The Canadian striker successfully converted the penalty during first-half stoppage time, and Lille maintained their lead, showcasing an impressive performance in front of a sold-out crowd of 50,000 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Lille displayed exceptional skill throughout the match but had to withstand pressure in the closing moments to secure one of the most significant European victories in their history, bouncing back from a 2-0 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in their opening match of the season.
On the other hand, Real Madrid, with Kylian Mbappe making a substitute appearance after recovering from a thigh injury, struggled to replicate the form that led them to their 15th European Cup title last season.
This defeat may not have dire consequences for Carlo Ancelotti’s team, who previously triumphed over Stuttgart 3-1 at home and saw their impressive 36-game unbeaten streak, dating back to January, come to an end.
The new 36-team format of the Champions League allows for some leeway, particularly for the continent's top clubs, as each team now plays eight matches instead of six.
Real Madrid's upcoming schedule appears challenging, with a rematch against Borussia Dortmund, followed by fixtures against AC Milan and Liverpool.
It is difficult to envision them not qualifying at least for the play-off round, which may have somewhat diminished the excitement of the evening for them.
Conversely, for many players from Lille, this was arguably the most significant night of their careers, and they were eager to make the most of the opportunity. This was particularly true for midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who made his debut on his 17th birthday.
Real Madrid’s French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe reacts after losing the UEFA Champions League football match between Lille LOSC and Real Madrid at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on October 2, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Mbappe and Bellingham in the Spotlight
Bouaddi performed exceptionally well, even outshining notable players from the Madrid squad, such as Jude Bellingham, who, at 21, is considered a relative veteran.
Mbappe was making his first appearance on French soil since transferring to Spain from Paris Saint-Germain, having last played for PSG in this very stadium during the French Cup final in May.
The France captain had just returned from a thigh injury sustained the previous week, which led to him starting the match on the bench. Instead, Real's offense was led by Endrick, the young Brazilian who was making his first start since joining from Palmeiras.
At 18 years and 73 days old, he became the youngest player to start a Champions League match for Real, surpassing Raul's record set in 1995 by five days.
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| Real Madrid’s German defender #22 Antonio Ruediger (C-R) argues with Lille’s French defender #18 Bafode Diakite during the UEFA Champions League football match between Lille LOSC and Real Madrid at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on October 2, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) |
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| Lille’s Kosovo forward #23 Edon Zhegrova (C) celebrates with the man of the match trophy after Lille won the UEFA Champions League football match between Lille LOSC and Real Madrid at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on October 2, 2024. (Photo by Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP) |
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| Lille’s Portuguese defender #22 Tiago Santos (DOWN) reacts next to Real Madrid’s French forward #09 Kylian Mbappe (C) during the UEFA Champions League football match between Lille LOSC and Real Madrid at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, northern France, on October 2, 2024. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) |
Endrick nearly gave Real the lead in the 19th minute when he charged into the box, only to have his shot saved by Lucas Chevalier. Prior to that, Vinicius had been thwarted by Lille’s goalkeeper, but the home team appeared to be the stronger side.
Lille came close to scoring in the 25th minute when David connected with Edon Zhegrova’s cross at the back post, but Andriy Lunin, who was starting in goal for Real due to Thibaut Courtois' injury, made a crucial save and deflected the follow-up onto the post.
The first goal of the match was awarded after a Zhegrova free-kick in the dying moments of the first half struck Eduardo Camavinga's hand in the penalty area. The Italian referee pointed to the penalty spot after reviewing the footage.
David had previously converted a vital penalty against Fenerbahce in the third qualifying round in August, successfully sending Lunin the wrong way to score and put his team ahead 1-0.
Real Madrid needed to make adjustments to prevent suffering their first defeat in 11 matches this season. Mbappe was introduced just before the hour mark, while Endrick made way for the veteran Luka Modric, who is 39 years old.
Prior to these substitutions, Zhegrova had nearly found the net with a curling shot that went just wide, and the changes did not yield the desired impact.
However, Real Madrid nearly equalized in dramatic fashion late in the game, with Chevalier making a save from Arda Guler, and Bellingham failing to capitalize on the rebound. Chevalier then delivered another remarkable save from Guler, allowing Lille to maintain their lead.