To dream Lille will have to show a completely different face than that proposed during 2 of the last 3 matches played in L1 on the lawn of Pierre Mauroy. LOSC, who beat Clermont 4-0, were unable to dominate Metz and Saint-Etienne, two teams struggling to maintain themselves, without ever finding the net. How can we, therefore, imagine seeing the French champion take over the reigning European champion? who didn’t have to force his talent to win the first round.
The statement: Gourvennec wants to believe it
The Lille coach sincerely believes in it and he has not forgotten the group stage during which there were many harsh criticisms after a failed start to the course by LOSC: “Even if the possibility of qualification is not high, we will give everything, we will prepare for an incredible match. And then, I will also refresh the memory of some. In the group stage, when we lose in Salzburg, we were almost eliminated. The post-match press conference, I remember it well and I said the following thing, I took up an expression of Claude Puel that he had had during a Champion’s League campaign. He repeated match after match: We have not said our last word. I will therefore repeat to you what I said in Salzburg. We didn’t say our last word.”
The player to watch: Sven Botman, the real defensive boss
If LOSC has regained its defensive solidity, it owes it to the parades of Jardim who replaced Grbic, to the leadership of Fonte who continues to mobilize the troops in the quest for a clean sheet, but above all to the solidity and authority found by Sven Botman. For many weeks, the Dutchman has returned to the level that made him one of the revelations of last season. The Lille defender may have announced that he was planning to leave at the end of the season, he remains a reliable element on the pitch who leaves his future ambitions in the locker room to respond when facing the best defenders in L1. Botman will therefore still be very important tonight to dream of a double objective synonymous with an authentic feat: Score at least 2 and above all not concede.
The stat: Chelsea never lose by 2 goals
The figures are indeed not to the advantage of LOSC. Never, this season, have the Blues been beaten by at least two goals. .The Blues have only lost 5 times this season. 4 times by 1 goal difference (against Manchester City 0-1 twice, against Juventus 0-1, against West Ham 2-3, and once after penalties (10-11) against Liverpool in the League Cup final. We have to go back to April 3, 2021 to see Chelsea lose by at least 2 goals: that day West Bromwich won in London with a score of 5 goals to 2.
The composition France Bleu Nord: without Sanches hit in the thigh against the Greens
Jardim – Celik, Fonte, Botman, Djalo – Bamba, André, Xeka or Onana, Gudmundsson – David, Ben Arfa or Yilmaz.
– Charley Sylvain
Lille supporters want to believe it
More than 49,000 people are expected this Wednesday evening in the stands of Pierre Mauroy. All supporters’ associations had of course marked this date in their calendar. This will be the case, for example, of the 65 members of the Dogues Pompon, which officially saw the light of day in 2016. We went to meet them. Damien and his friends, Muriel, Christophe, Johann, Sarah and Eric, want to believe in the feat.