October 2024 has been a remarkable month for Lille OSC, marked by a notable victory against Real Madrid (1-0) at home, as well as wins over Toulouse (2-1) and Lens (2-0), and a draw with Monaco (0-0). With six points in the Champions League and 17 in Ligue 1, they stand fourth, tied with Marseille. Coach Bruno Genesio emphasizes the importance of maintaining focus and adapting, as they now face Lyon, who are struggling. Jonathan David has emerged as a key player, scoring multiple goals and leading the team’s mental resilience.
In its history, LOSC Lille has likely never experienced a more triumphant month than October 2024. The month kicked off with an impressive home victory over Real Madrid (1-0), followed by a win against Toulouse (2-1), then a hard-fought draw at Monaco (0-0). They continued their streak by defeating Atlético Madrid (3-1) and capped it off with a derby victory over Lens (2-0).
With six points from three matches in the Champions League and 17 points in Ligue 1, Lille is currently fourth, tied with Marseille but trailing on goal difference.
“Of course, it’s rewarding,” admits coach Bruno Genesio. “We are proud of these performances but we constantly reevaluate ourselves—staff, players, and myself—to avoid falling into monotony and complacency.”
This commitment is crucial for the Dogues as they aim to maintain their rapid pace throughout November, balancing both league and European competitions.
The northern club kicks off this new chapter against Lyon (currently 7th with 14 points), who are looking to bounce back after two disappointing results—a defeat in the Europa League against Besiktas and a 2-2 draw with Auxerre.
David as Goliath
For this fixture at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille will rely once more on their prolific striker Jonathan David, who has been on a scoring spree this season with a total of eleven goals across all competitions, including the Champions League qualifying rounds.
The 24-year-old Canadian has played a pivotal role in Lille’s recent successes, netting goals against Real Madrid, scoring twice against Atlético, and finding the net again at Lens, establishing himself as the leader of the team.
Behind him, the entire Lille squad appears to have reached a new level mentally. Last season, they struggled to cope with the pressure in crucial matches, especially away from home, but they have shown resilience during a demanding stretch of three matches over nine days, displaying both strength and opportunism when necessary.
Is this a sign of a maturing squad? “We have a mentally strong group, capable of pushing themselves, being supportive, and showing dedication during tough moments in a match,” Bruno Genesio rejoices. “For instance, in the game against Toulouse, just three days after playing against Real, we faced significant difficulties in the first half (trailing 1-0 at halftime), but we managed to turn the game around.”
Despite this progress, the coach, 58, insists that “nothing has changed” regarding their mental preparation. “I emphasize this point a lot this season,” he notes. “Winning under pressure builds a lot of confidence. We turned things around after the match against Saint-Étienne (a 1-0 defeat) with our game against Strasbourg (2-2 at Stade de la Meinau), where we also faced difficulties. We managed to equalize late in the match and salvage a point, which, although initially unsatisfying, was undoubtedly the start of something greater.” This marks the beginning of a memorable run that the Lille players are eager to continue.