It is a match at the top that the players of LOSC will play on their lawn Tuesday, November 23. Facing RB Salzburg, the only team to have beaten them in the Champions League this season when they entered the competition, they will try to confirm their good European form and continue to hang on to the prospect of qualification.
Take a decisive step towards qualification
In case of victory, Lille would take a big step towards the knockout stages. They would then have eight points on the clock, in a group where the four teams are still able to qualify since only four points separate Salzburg (1st, 7 points) from Seville (4th, 3 points). “You have to be prepared to make the maximum effort because it can be a very important moment in your career”, assured Lille coach Jocelyn Gourvennec during the pre-match press conference. “There is necessarily the emotional dimension linked to the event.”
And even if the Mastiffs were to lose, they would not mathematically be excluded from the race for qualification, since Wolfsburg, their opponent on the final day, will always be within shooting range, whatever the result. In case of victory, the Austrians, for their part, would validate their ticket for the final phase.
Leading the group
This is the other big issue of the evening. A success could allow the Mastiffs to take the lead of Group G, overtaking their evening opponents by a small point. Since the defeat against Wolfsburg on the 4th day on November 2 (2-1), the first of their season, the Austrians have stalled. They remain on a disappointing draw against Admira Wacker, 9th in the championship (0-0) after having painfully imposed against Austria Vienna (1-0).
Our European destiny is between our feet
See you in 48 hours ⏳
– LOSC (@losclive) November 21, 2021
A relative state of form which will benefit the men of Jocelyn Gourvennec in the quest for success. Approaching the last day as group first would allow them to have their destiny in their hands at the start of the last day. A motivating perspective, as Xeka revealed at a press conference: “The squad is always motivated, even more so in a great match where you can have the opportunity to do something beautiful by going first and putting yourself in a very good position to go to eighth if you win.”
Chain two unprecedented victories
Against Salzburg, Lille has the opportunity to chain two wins in the Champions League for the first time in its history. Since their first campaign in 2001, the Mastiffs have never managed to win twice in a row in the competition.
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And even on the European scene in general, such a series is a rarity for Lille. Their last two successes in a row in the group stage date back to the 2009-2010 Europa League campaign, against Slavia Prague (5-1), and Genoa (3-0).
Capitalize on rediscovered offensive efficiency
Since their scoreless draw against Sevilla to conclude the first leg on October 20, Lille have found their way into the net in each of their matches. A series that includes meetings against tough opponents, such as Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 (2-1 defeat), or the Sevillians in the second leg (2-1 victory). In the wake of Jonathan David who finds success, Lille will have to show offensive efficiency to hope to dominate Salzburg, and continue to dream.