In a thrilling Champions League encounter, Lille pulled off a stunning comeback victory against host Atletico Madrid, securing a 3-1 win and piling pressure on the struggling Spanish side. This victory marks Lille’s second consecutive win against a Madrid giant, following their impressive 1-0 triumph over reigning champions Real Madrid earlier in October.
The match started with Atletico Madrid dominating the early stages, looking to score an early goal to set the tone. They achieved this goal in the 8th minute when Julian Alvarez cleverly intercepted a weak back pass from Lille defender Ousmane Toure, slotting the ball past the goalkeeper for the lead. Things got worse for Lille in the 16th minute as midfielder Remy Cabella was forced to leave the field due to injury, with Edon Zhegrova coming on as a substitute.
Despite their early advantage, Atletico missed several key opportunities to extend their lead and potentially finish the game in the first half. Alexander Sorloth, in particular, squandered three golden scoring chances, leaving Lille with hope for a comeback. Lille’s best chance in the first half came in stoppage time, with Zhegrova, who had just entered the game, narrowly missing the target with a shot over the bar. However, his introduction would prove crucial in the second half.
The second half witnessed a complete shift in momentum as Lille emerged with renewed purpose and determination. Zhegrova, with a precise left-footed shot, found the back of the net in the 61st minute, bringing the visitors level. Atletico almost immediately responded with a chance of their own when Antoine Griezmann found himself unmarked in front of goal, but his volley sailed over the bar.
Lille continued their onslaught and sealed their comeback victory in the 74th minute with a penalty goal from Jonathan David, who had also scored the winning goal against Real Madrid. David added a second goal in the 89th minute, a deflected effort that lifted Lille to six points in the group stage.
Atletico remains on three points with just one win from their three matches, their struggles continuing in the Champions League. This dramatic comeback victory for Lille will be remembered as one of the most exciting games of the group stage, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the competition.