Lille takes an option for qualification by largely beating Sturm Graz in the round of 16 first leg

Losc easily won on Thursday on the Austrian club’s pitch (3-0) and already has one foot in the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League.

Thanks to his double, Jonathan David may have already sent Losc to the quarter-finals of the Europa Conference League. We will have to remain serious in the return match at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium, Thursday March 14, but Lille can already plan for the next round thanks to its large victory, Thursday March 7, on the lawn of the Austrians at Sturm Graz during of the round of 16 first leg (3-0). In the Merkur Arena, formerly called the Arnold-Schwarzenegger stadium in reference to the Austrian actor born near Graz, the northern club played the Terminator.

In the main role, Jonathan David, therefore. The Canadian striker certainly came off in the 63rd minute but during the first hour of play, all the cameras were focused on him. It was he who gave LOSC the advantage in the first period (28th), on a fantastic serve from young Ayyoub Bouaddi (16 years old). David then confirmed Lille’s domination by widening the gap after returning from the locker room, following a shot from Hakon Haraldsson which had crashed onto the crossbar (51st).

Zhegrova’s jewel

A double to confirm a good start to 2024, but also some doubts: Jonathan David could have offered an even more advantageous scenario to his team before the return match, if he had not lost his two duels with Vitezslav Jaros, the Sturm goalkeeper (49th, 56th). For the prize for the best achievement of the evening, the Canadian was however beaten by his teammate Edon Zhegrova, who pulled out of the hat a magnificent curling shot which ended its race in the top corner of Sturm Graz (71st).

The Austrian club, so far undefeated in 2024, still caused some problems for the Lille defense, but Lucas Chevalier responded with two saves (37th, 79th). The Mastiff goalkeeper nevertheless counted on his crossbar to repel Otar Kiteishvili’s strike (61st). Lille leaves Austria with the feeling of a job well done and one foot in the next round. For the first time in its history, the northern club could discover the quarter-finals of a European competition.