UEL: Crvena Zvezda edge Lille in play-off
Lille OSC conceded a slender 1-0 defeat at home to Crvena Zvezda in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off on Thursday evening.
LOSC fail to 'turn it around'
LOSC headed into this game on a difficult run of form. Having failed to win a game in Ligue 1 McDonald's this calendar year, Bruno Genesio spoke about "turning it around" on Thursday night in the Europa League, the competition in which they have registered their only win so far in 2026.
"Sometimes football is capricious," added Genesio. "Sometimes football is marvellous. At the moment, it is more difficult for us, but if we continue and if we are mentally able to hold our course and to believe in what we're doing, things will turn around, if we do even more... and it will turn around."
But it would not turn around against their Serbian opponents at the Stade Pierre Mauroy. It was the visitors who were the most positive and more incisive in the first 45 minutes, with Les Dogues forced into plenty of last-ditch defending, without creating many chances of note of their own.
90’ I 0️⃣-1️⃣
FT. Red Star Belgrade win 1-0 in the first leg.
A big second leg is required in Serbia next week. #LOSCFKCZ pic.twitter.com/t01vrqtUzl— LOSC (@LOSC_EN) February 19, 202
It was on the stroke of half-time that they fell behind. Tomas Handel delivered a ball for Franklin Tebo Ichenna, who flicked home to open the scoring (45+1) with almost the final kick of the first half.
It was much the same story in the second half. Whilst LOSC succeeded in carving out chances from set pieces, the best chances fell to Crvena Zvezda and Berke Ozer was forced into action in the Lille goal, denying Marko Arnautovic on two occasions (67', 87'). It was only in the 80th minute of the encounter that Lille registered their one and only shot on target in the game, via Romain Perraud (80').
LOSC face Angers ahead of return leg
It was a night to forget for LOSC, whose issues going forward persisted, as they have throughout the beginning of 2026. And Genesio's side were instead grateful to come out of the game with a deficit of just one goal.
That was the major positive as, having scraped through during the UEL 'League Phase', they now look to overturn the deficit in their play-off and keep their European adventure going. They will head to Serbia for the return leg next Thursday, but prior to that, they must still negotiate a tricky trip to SCO Angers on Sunday afternoon.
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>> UEL: Lille looking to turn it around against Crvena Zvezda
