Lille pulled off a stunning victory against Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, with a Jonathan David penalty just before halftime securing a memorable 1-0 win for the French club over the reigning European champions.
The Canadian striker converted the penalty in first-half stoppage time, and Lille maintained their impressive performance in front of a sold-out crowd of 50,000 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, ultimately deserving their victory.
This win marked a strong comeback for Lille after a 2-0 defeat to Sporting Lisbon in their opening match of the season.
Real Madrid, with Kylian Mbappe making a substitute appearance following a thigh injury, struggled to replicate the form that led them to their 15th European Cup triumph last season.
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While they had previously defeated Stuttgart 3-1 at home, this loss ended their 36-game unbeaten streak dating back to January.
The new 36-team Champions League format allows for some leeway, especially for major clubs like Real, as each team now plays eight games instead of six.
Upcoming fixtures for Real include a rematch against Borussia Dortmund, followed by matches against AC Milan and Liverpool, making the path ahead challenging.
However, it seems unlikely they would miss out on at least a playoff spot, potentially lessening the sting of this loss.
For many Lille players, this match represented the pinnacle of their careers, with midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi making a significant impact on his 17th birthday.
Bouaddi’s performance outshone that of Madrid’s stars, including 21-year-old Jude Bellingham.
Mbappe returned to French soil for the first time since his transfer to Real from Paris Saint-Germain, having last played in this stadium during the French Cup final in May.
However, he started on the bench as Real’s attack was led by Endrick, the young Brazilian making his first start after signing from Palmeiras.
At 18 years and 73 days, Endrick became the youngest player ever to start a Champions League game for Real, breaking Raul’s previous record.
Endrick nearly opened the scoring in the 19th minute but was thwarted by Lille’s goalkeeper, Lucas Chevalier.
Vinicius also failed to convert earlier chances, while Lille showed their prowess, nearly scoring in the 25th minute when David’s attempt was saved by Andriy Lunin, who then deflected the follow-up onto the post.
The breakthrough came just before halftime when a free-kick from Zhegrova struck the hand of Eduardo Camavinga in the box.
The referee awarded a penalty after a video review, and David calmly converted, sending Lunin the wrong way.
Real sought to turn the tide after the break, introducing Mbappe shortly before the hour mark and replacing Endrick with veteran Luka Modric.
However, Lille continued to threaten, with Zhegrova curling a shot just wide.
Despite some late pressure from Real, including attempts from Arda Guler and Bellingham, Chevalier stood firm, making crucial saves to preserve Lille’s historic victory.
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