Match Reports
Santos, Emegha keep Racing's strong form going against Lille
Limited Lille
Heading into the match, there was a certain suspicion that this could be a real test for Lille. Not only were the visitors between two UEFA Champions League matches, but they would also be without the suspended pair of Jonathan David and Alexsandro, both automatic first choices for Génésio, as well as the injured Edon Zhegrova. Racing had their absences as well, though -- Dilane Bakwa, the team's most consistent creative player was out with a knee injury, and Liam Rosenior again called on youngster Abdoul Ouattara to start, as he had last weekend against Olympique de Marseille.
While this encounter wasn't quite as pulsating as the reverse fixture -- a three-all draw -- it nevertheless proved consistently entertaining from the off. Young winger Osame Sahraoui opened the scoring with just eight minutes gone with a brilliant finish across goal, and it seemed the hosts were under the cosh, as Dorde Petrovic would have to be sharp on the half hour to keep out an effort by Thomas Meunier before VAR denied what had at first looked a penalty for handball on Sebastian Nanasi. Halftime thus came with Les Dogues a goal to the good, and well-positioned to respond to AS Monaco's having won earlier in the day, moving back above the Principality side in the live table.
𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗬 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗡' ⚽🔥 pic.twitter.com/svJ2iebYSy
— Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace English (@RCSA_English) January 25, 2025
Emegha and Santos: The Men of the moment
While Lille would have liked to have breathed a sigh of relief come full time, Racing ensured that wasn't the case. Rosenior handed a debut to Andrew Omobamidele in defense, the Irishman coming on for Nanasi as his side switched to three at the back, freeing Diego Moreira to play a more advanced role on the right. Just before the hour, Strasbourg came to life as both Habib Diarra and Emanuel Emegha forced fine saves out of Lucas Chevalier in the Lille goal.
That pressure would soon tell, as Andrey Santos leveled the score with a shot from the edge of the area with twenty minutes to play, the Brazilian midfielder scoring his eighth goal of the season in all competitions. With La Meinau baying for a winner, Racing took the match by the scruff of the neck, and soon the lead with it, as Emegha nodded home at the far post following Diarra's cross. Petrovic would be forced into a strong save against Rémy Cabella three minutes from time, but at full time, the hosts had their fourth win in five Ligue 1 McDonald's matches, drawing level on points with RC Lens in seventh.
The Stat: 6
Emanuel Emegha has been involved in six of the last seven goal scored in Ligue 1 McDonald's by Racing Club de Strasbourg.
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