The context
A week after their exhilarating victory (2-1) on the gong at the Stade du Hainaut, the Dogues will meet Fenerbahçe again this Tuesday for the second leg of the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League. This time, It is into the furnace of the Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium in Istanbul that Bruno Genesio’s men must plungewith the aim of getting through, qualification in the bag. A perilous mission against José Mourinho’s team, already well underway in its season and supported by its fiery public. On the pitch, the Lille technician decides to renew the same eleven that won against the Turks last Tuesday, in its hybrid 3-2-4-1 system.
The match
As expected, the atmosphere is incandescent. And as expected, the Turks try to set the stage alight from the start. But Dzeko sees his header go just over (1′). Once the enthusiasm of the first minutes has died down, it is Lille who manage to find gaps. Rémy Cabella (9′, 10′) twice, then Gabi Gudmundsson (16′) take their chances, without success for the moment. While the intensity rises a notch, the contacts harden and tempers heat up, Lucas Chevalier is vigilant and imperious with two long-range strikes, one after the other (25′)at the heart of a semblance of a Turkish strong point that the Dogues know how to contain perfectly. The Lillois also manage to be dangerous. Gabi Gudmundsson’s cross back to Jo David is deflected off his line or almost by a Fenerbahçe defender (37′). The first act is open, indecisive and suits LOSC, solid, focused and still in the lead over the two matches, for the moment.
After the break, Lille got their foot on the ball. The Turks were unable to get close to the French goal, which they nevertheless tried to reach with long-range shots, such as Dzeko (54′), in the heart of a very choppy second half. Les Dogues were not content with defending well, they also managed to create opportunities for themselves. We are thinking in particular of Bafo’ Diakité’s header that was too far off the mark on a free kick from Angel Gomes (62′) or the attempts by Jo David (65′, 72′) and Gabi Gudmundsson (81′). In the meantime, Zhegrova (68′), Mandi and Mukau (81′) had come on. LOSC managed their lead well and could even count on a bit of luck when Osayi-Samuel’s volley hit the post (82′). Until this stroke of bad luck. On a long touch, the ball was unintentionally deflected into his own net by Bafo’ Diakité (90’+3). What a stroke of bad luck for a Lille team that had been impeccable until then.
It will therefore be necessary to go through extra time. The opportunity for the new entrant, Osame Sahraoui (98′), to bring his liveliness to a LOSC which relies in particular on that of Edon Zhegrova, whose shot goes over (93′). The match, which stretches more in time than in intensity, notably sees the very first appearance of the young and promising defender, Ousmane Touré (106′). As for Aïssa Mandi, he was sent off for a tackle deemed too virile (109′)The initiatives of Ngala Mukau (108′) and Osame Sahraoui (113′) precede this strike from Jonathan David blocked by hand by a defender. Penalty! Which the player in question transformed with a flat foot full of serenity (118′). What composure! In the process, at the heart of a breathless end to the match, the crossbar came to save the Lille camp (120′).
Despite the palpable tension at the end of the game, Lille held on and snatched their qualification at the end of the suspense, 10 against 11. The adventure continues in the Champions League!
The wink
Well done and thank you to the hundred or so Lille supporters present in the stands of Fenerbahçe’s Şükrü Saracoğlu stadium. This qualification is also theirs.
The sequel
It’s done! Thanks to their qualification on the pitch of Fenerbahçe, LOSC opens the way to the Play-offs of the UEFA Champions League. The Dogues will face the Czechs of Slavia Prague. The first leg will be held on Tuesday, August 20 (9 p.m.) at the Stade du Hainaut in Valenciennes. In the meantime, the Dogues will return to the League this Saturday (7 p.m.) in Reims.
Tickets for this exciting new European event will open for LOSC subscribers from this Wednesday, August 14 (at 2 p.m.).
The match sheet
FENERBAHCE SK-LOSC 1-1 AP (0-0)
Tuesday 13 August 2024, 7pm – UEFA Champions League 3rd preliminary round second leg
Sukru Saracoglu Sports Complex
Referee: Mr. Sanchez (ESP)
Goals: Diakité own goal (90’+3) for Fenerbahçe; David (sp, 118′)
Warnings: Müldür (8′), Söyüncü (68′) for Fenerbahçe; Alexsandro (35′), Gomes (55′), Zhegrova (80′), Haraldsson (86′) for LOSC
Expulsion : Mandi (109′) for LOSC
Fenerbahce : Livakovic – Müldür (Osayi-Samuel, 63′), Djiku, Söyüncü, Oosterwolde – Szymanski, Yüksek, Yandas (En-Nesyri, 63′) – Saint-Maximin (Kahveci, 75′), Dzeko (c) (Elmaz, 91′), Tadic (Tosun, 85′)
Coach: José Mourinho
LOSC: Chevalier – Meunier (Touré, 106’), Diakité, Alexsandro – André (c), Gomes (Mukau, 81’) – Santos (Mandi, 81’), Cabella (Zhegrova, 69’), Haraldsson (Sahraoui, 98 ‘), Gudmundsson (Ismaily, 106’) – David
Coach: Bruno Genesio
Next round ✅
Thanks for the support 👏#FBLOSC pic.twitter.com/pQsILMNg7R
— LOSC (@losclive) August 13, 2024
