On Tuesday night, Lille OSC is set to face Borussia Dortmund at the iconic Signal Iduna Park for the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash. With kick-off scheduled for 21:00 French time, the match will be broadcast live on Canal+ Foot.
Lille enters this high-stakes encounter aiming to continue their impressive European campaign, having completed the group stage with notable victories against heavyweights like Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. The team, which finished 7th during the league phase, arrives with the memory of their recent 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on March 1. Coach Bruno Genesio acknowledges the challenge posed by Dortmund, who, after struggling domestically with a 10th place finish, have regained some momentum, winning their last two matches.
The Belgian side will be without two key players, Edon Zhegrova and Osame Sahraoui. While Zhegrova has been sidelined since late January due to surgery, Sahraoui will also miss out on this pivotal match. Lille will likely line up with Chevalier, Meunier, Diakité, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson or Ismaily, André, Bouaddi, and David, among others. Gudmundsson is currently ill, and his availability will be decided on match day.
Dortmund aims to capitalize on their home advantage, bolstered by their enthusiastic fan base known for creating one of the most intimidating atmospheres in football. This reputation could affect the Lille squad, as they prepare to take on Dortmund's formidable presence at home.
Borussia has been nothing short of dominant on the European stage, easily dispatching Sporting Lisbon with aggregate scores of 3-0 and 0-0 to reach this stage of the tournament. Niko Kovac, the current Dortmund coach, was appointed just weeks ago following the dismissal of Nuri Sahin after the team had managed only one win from their previous nine outings. Kovac aims to channel the potential of his squad, featuring standout players like Sehrou Guirassy, who leads the Champions League scoring charts with ten goals.
Dortmund and Lille have faced each other twice before, with both encounters ending without goals. Considering the stakes, this matchup carries significant weight, and each side will be eager to secure bragging rights by gaining the upper hand.
"I think it’s very much 50/50; it's going to be balanced. We need to put ourselves right at the start to secure the return leg at home," stated Genesio, highlighting the competitive nature of the tie. This assertion reflects both teams' aspirations, with Lille hoping to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time.
While Lille does hope to bounce back from their disheartening performance against PSG, warnings abound from within their camp, with Chevalier noting, "Dortmund is high-level competition, but we don't feel weakened at all."
The weight of history also casts its shadow; over the last two decades, French clubs have struggled against Dortmund, recording only two wins out of eight matches. Lille needs to bring their best game to challenge this trend, especially when contrasting Dortmund's strong efforts this season with their own inconsistent performances away from home.
Kick-off is fast approaching, and both teams must be ready as this clash of the titans will not only serve as a test of skill and strategy but also of each squad's resilience.