UCL Recap: LOSC see red as ten-man Dogues lose in Lisbon
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Back in the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 2021-22 season, where, fresh off winning an unlikely Ligue 1 McDonald's title, LOSC Lille topped their group, Les Dogues kicked off their league phase of this year's edition away to Sporting Club de Portugal in Lisbon. After beating first Fenerbahçe and then Slavia Prague, Bruno Génésio's side was ready to take on the Portuguese champions, but, undone by a red card, would lose 2-0.
Changes and a difficult first half
Missing the injured pair of Hákon Haraldsson and Ismaily, Génésio opted to play a 3-4-3 with summer signing Osame Sahroui getting a surprise start on the left flank. The hosts, under Rubén Amorim, lined up in the same way, and the match was even in the early going. But slowly, the hosts got to grips with the game, with in-form Viktor Gyökeres coming close in the 11th minute before midfielder Hidemasa Morita shot wide moments later.
These efforts seemed to give Sporting more confidence, and they came close again, but Pedro Gonçalves was just wide on the turn after a quarter of an hour. Lille would respond in kind, and would fashion one of their better chances through Ángel Gomes, but the newly-minted England international's cutback for Jonathan David was cleared by the hosts, just moments before Lucas Chevalier was forced into a low save, again from Gonçalves. Lille took this in stride, and began to look more confident, but Gyökeres showed some fine hold-up play to score on the turn a few minutes before the break.
45' I 🟩 1-0 ⚪️
We're back underway 🔛#SCPLOSC pic.twitter.com/x2ARDWYDqe— LOSC (@LOSC_EN) September 17, 2024
From bad to worse
Just before the interval, though, Gomes was sent off for second booking, leaving LOSC to play the rest of the match with ten men. There was then another chance before the break for Lille, but Sporting managed to clear it and preserve their lead at the break. Despite having a goal and a man advantage, Os Leões didn't do much to press their advantage, even as teenager Geovany Quenda headed against the woodwork.
Indeed, despite dominating possession, it would be a fantastic, curling volley from defender Zeno Debast that all but sealed the match on 65 minutes, his curling shot finding the top corner. Just five minutes later, there was a good save from Chevalier, but Sporting would do little to push their advantage in the match, wary of Lille's pace on the counter. Late on, Alexsandro would have the ball in the goal, but it was flagged offside in the 89th minute, condemning Lille to a losing start to their European adventure.
Next up for LOSC will be a home match against Strasbourg on Saturday, where they'll look to move up the Ligue 1 table before hosting Real Madrid in the next European matchday.
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