Holders Real Madrid travel to France for a first-ever meeting with Lille in their first away game of the 2024/25 Champions League season.
Real Madrid vs Lille Champions League Match Overview
Match Details
Date: Wednesday, 2 October 2024 / Thursday, 3 October 2023
Time: 21:00 (BST), 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
Match Preview
Although Lille started the new season on a high with back-to-back wins in Ligue 1 and securing a League Phase berth in the Champions League after coming through the qualifiers, Bruno Genesio's men quickly slumped into a five-game winless streak including losing their League Phase opener 2-0 to Portuguese side Sporting CP. They were the only French outfit to lose in the first round of matches but the team hopes to change their form after a 3-0 win over Le Havre in the league this weekend. Canadian star Jonathan David scored a splendid hattrick in the much-needed victory before welcoming the competition kings Real Madrid at Stade Pierre-Mauroy for their first home game in the League Phase. It will be a colossal task for the side, placed 30th on the table, to pull off a miracle in the Wednesday night clash. Lille could drive confidence from the fact that they have not lost their last eight European matches at home including seven wins in the period. However, Les Dogues have beaten a Spanish team only once in the previous eight meetings on the continental stage.
Despite centre-back David Militao putting his side in front past the hour-mark at the Metropolitano, Real Madrid failed to hold on to their advantage as they only came up with a point after Angel Correa’s stoppage-time equaliser for Atletico Madrid. As most often seen, the game was ill-tempered with crowd trouble halting the match briefly. Carlo Ancelotti’s men think it is an opportunity missed to close down more gaps with La Liga leaders Barcelona who lost in their game against Osauna. However, they will not want to repeat the same on the continental stage as they carry the opportunity to get back to winning ways and equal their 15-game unbeaten streak in the Champions League established under Zinedine Zidane. Los Blancos started the competition in its new format with a 3-1 win over Stuttgart and expect nothing else when they make the trip to France for their first away game. Real Madrid will want to win for another important reason to strengthen their position on the table ahead of facing top guns like Dortmund and Milan at home and making two tricky away trips to Liverpool and Atalanta.
Recent Form (all competitions)
LIL: LLLDW
RM: WWWWD
Recent Form (Champions League)
LIL: WDWL
RM: DWWW
LIL vs RM Team News
Lille are without Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, Ismaily and Samuel Umtiti due to injuries while Nabil Bentaleb is ill. Midfielder Angel Gomes is suspended after receiving a red card against Sporting.
Real Madrid also has big injury problems to think about with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois suffering a muscle problem in the derby with the French star Kylian Mbappe ruled out through a thigh injury. Fran Garcia is also a doubt having been on the receiving end of a horrific challenge by Marcos Llorente who was sent off. David Alaba, Brahim Diaz and Dani Ceballos are the other absentees but Eduardo Camavinga has returned to the squad and could feature in this game.
LIL vs RM Predicted Lineups
Lille Predicted Starting XI
Chevalier; Santos, Meunier, Diakite, Alexsandro, Bakker; Zhegrova, Andre Gomes, Cabella; David, Sahraoui
Real Madrid Predicted Starting XI
Lunin; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Modric, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius
LIL vs RM Dream11 Prediction
Top picks for Dream11 Team
Captain Pick: Vinicius Junior
Vice-captain Picks: Rodrygo, Jonathan David
Our topmost pick for the LIL vs RM Dream11 team is Vinicius Junior with 3 goals and 4 assists this season. The Brazilian has contributed to 41 goals (21 goals, 20 assists) in his Champions League career.
LIL vs RM Dream11 Team Suggestion
GK: Chevalier (Cr - 7.5)
DEF: Carvajal (Cr - 8), Militao (Cr - 9), Rudiger (Cr - 8), Meunier (Cr - 7.5)
MID: Zhegrova (Cr- 9), Valverde (Cr - 8.5), Bellingham (Cr - 8), Griezmann (Cr - 9, Pts - 285),
FW: Rodrygo (Cr - 8.5), David (8.5), Vinicius (Cr - 9)
Vice-captain: Rodrygo
Captain: Vinicius Junior
Lille vs Real Madrid Match Prediction
It would be a major shock if Real Madrid cannot take full points in this fixture as they are expected to dominate an inconsistent Lille team. We predict a 3-1 win for the competition holders.
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