Four French clubs will play in the Champions League this season, as Lille joins Paris, Brest and Monaco. This is a first in the history of the competition.
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Those who were most hungry were not the Dogues on Wednesday, August 28, in the return leg of the Champions League qualifying play-off. Pushed around by Slavia Prague and overwhelmed in all areas of the game, Lille gave themselves a scare while they had a two-goal lead at the start of the match thanks to their victory in the first leg (2-0). But a very quick goal from the Czechs made them doubt the whole game, especially since Prague scored a second just after Edon Zhegrova’s equalizer (2-1). Lille could only breathe at the final whistle.
While a ceremony centered around paradoxes was held in Paris, others burst into the open at the Eden Arena in Prague. Lille, who had dominated the first leg so much, did not see the light of day in the return. And the much-feared scenario of a quick reduction in the score by Slavia Prague occurred. It took no more than five minutes for Christos Zafeiris to find the back of the net and put the pressure on Lille’s shoulders for the rest of the match.
The Prague players were even closer to 2-0 or even 3-0, constantly putting the danger on Lucas Chevalier’s goal. Overwhelmed in the duels, Bruno Genesio’s men also gave the ball back to their opponents far too easily. And with a limited and young bench, in a match requiring experience, the Lille coach was unable to bring much fresh blood to his team.
Almost unexpectedly, Edon Zhegrova scored a liberating goal, from afar and at ground level (77th), but the noose did not loosen with a second goal from Slavia, scored by Ivan Schranz (84th). The Czechs had other chances to snatch extra time but lacked precision.
The Dogues are therefore getting through but will have left a lot of juice before hosting Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday at the end of the 3rd day of Ligue 1. They join the Parisians, as well as Brest and Monaco in the regular phase, and are the first French team to emerge victorious from the play-offs of the competition since Monaco in 2016-2017. A qualification which also ensures them a check for 25 million euros, not insignificant two days before the end of the transfer window and while TV rights are decreasing. The draw for the regular phase of the Champions League, in the new format, will take place on Thursday.
