On Thursday at midnight, the Stade Pierre-Mauroy will set the stage for a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League clash as LOSC Lille host reigning champions Real Madrid. This match represents the first-ever European encounter between the French side and Los Blancos, bringing together two teams with starkly different histories and recent form.
Lille vs Real Madrid: Match Preview
Real Madrid and the Champions League often seem inseparable, much like the iconic duo Laurel and Hardy. Regardless of their domestic form or the quality of their opponents, they typically find a way to succeed. With 15 titles under their belt, their dominance in the competition is unmatched. To put that into perspective, the next most successful club, AC Milan, has claimed the trophy seven times.
Despite Barcelona leading La Liga and Real Madrid missing an opportunity to close the gap after a draw with Atletico Madrid, such domestic matters rarely impact Real’s performance in Europe. As seasoned Champions League contenders, they remain unfazed by league standings.
Lille, on the other hand, have had a rough start to the season, making a statement victory against Madrid unlikely. They opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 loss to Sporting Lisbon and, despite playing at home this time, recent form offers little hope. Lille have failed to win their last two home games and endured four consecutive losses earlier in the season. In stark contrast, Real Madrid have lost just two of their last 39 matches across all competitions and comfortably won their Champions League opener, 3-1 against Stuttgart.
While unpredictability is always a factor in football, this encounter feels less uncertain. Lille had gone five games without a win before the weekend, and injuries continue to mount. They could be missing up to six players for Real’s visit, including ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Nabil Bentaleb and former Manchester United player Angel Gomes, who is suspended. However, there is a silver lining for Lille as Real may also be without two key players, Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois. Yet, such is Real’s reputation in the Champions League that it often feels like they could field a team of random players and still find a way to win.
Lille vs Real Madrid: Recent Form (all competitions)
- Lille: W-D-L-L-L
- Real Madrid: D-W-W-W-W
Lille vs Real Madrid: Head-to-head
This marks the first competitive meeting between Lille and Real Madrid.
Lille vs Real Madrid: Team News
Lille
Angel Gomes is suspended for Thursday’s game after receiving two yellow cards on Matchday 1, which could open the door for former Everton midfielder Andre Gomes to step into the midfield for the home side.
Icelandic star Hakon Arnar Haraldsson remains sidelined with a foot injury, while Lille will also be missing Nabil Bentaleb, Ismaily, Samuel Umtiti, and Ngal Ayel Mukau for their clash against the reigning champions.
Lille: Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper – Chevalier
- Defenders – Santos, Diakite, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson
- Midfielders – Andre, Andre Gomes, Cabella
- Forwards – Zhegrova, David, Sahraoui
Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappe, initially expected to be sidelined until after the international break due to a muscle injury, has made a faster recovery than anticipated and could feature in Thursday’s match. He has traveled with the Madrid squad.
Fran Garcia, who suffered a rough challenge from Marcos Llorente in Monday’s derby, remains doubtful, while Thibaut Courtois is out for several weeks after picking up an abductor injury against Atletico. Andriy Lunin, who stepped in for Courtois last season, will once again be called upon by Ancelotti.
Brahim Diaz, Dani Ceballos, and David Alaba are also unavailable, but Eduardo Camavinga could return to the starting lineup after making his comeback from injury over the weekend.
Real Madrid: Predicted Lineup (4-3-1-2)
- Goalkeeper – Lunin
- Defenders – Lucas Vasquez, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy
- Midfielders – Modric, Tchouameni, Camavinga, Bellingham
- Forwards – Rodrygo, Vinicius Jr
Lille vs Real Madrid: Match Prediction
It may take Ancelotti some time to find the ideal setup with this squad, but it’s clear that Madrid will be favored in almost every match this season given the wealth of talent at the Italian’s disposal.
The solid defense that was key to their success last season hasn’t fully reappeared, and Madrid are not yet clicking as a cohesive unit in attack. Their struggle to control games offers opponents opportunities, and Lille might exploit that, especially with Jonathan David and Edon Zhegrova in strong form.
However, Madrid always seem to find a way to prevail. This Lille side is far from their strongest, and the visitors should secure a comfortable win on the road.
Predicting a Lille win seems unrealistic at this stage. This should be a straightforward victory for Real Madrid, with a few goals likely. A 0-3 outcome seems like a fair prediction.
Prediction – Lille 0-3 Real Madrid
Where and Where to Watch the Match? Streaming Details and Live Broadcast
The UEFA Champions League 2024-25 match between Lille and Real Madrid will be broadcast live in India on Sony Sports Network. The match is scheduled to Thursday, October 3, 2024 at 12:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Viewers in India can watch the match live from Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Additionally, for those who prefer online streaming, the match will be available for live streaming on the SonyLIV App.
Read More: Arsenal and Real Madrid Battle for 18 Year Old Brazilian Defender Vitor Reis
When is Lille vs Real Madrid?
Lille face Milan at Real Madrid from 12:30 am (IST) onwards on October 3.
