Red Star Belgrade against Lille, Thursday February 26 at 6:45 PM
UEFA Europa League – Matchday 1 – 19/02/26 – 9:00 PM
| time | icon | player | homeTime | homeIcon | homePlayer | score | awayPlayer | awayIcon | awayTime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper Franklin Tebo at 45+1′, 0 – 1 |
Lille needed a boost, but it has become a new boost. They also lost at home against the crafty Red Star Belgrade. Although young Red Devil, Nathan Ngoy, was the rock in defense, the home team still had to bow after one special finishing phase. It turned out to be enough for a deserved victory for the visitors.
No, this was not the evening Lille had hoped for.
The French sub-topper has suffered a setback in recent weeks and wanted to put an end to this in Europe. The hoped-for victim: Red Star Belgrade.
Proud, strong and fierce?
No, it would be a firm reality check for Lille, which quickly became acquainted with the Slovenian cunning and organization. Dejan Stanković – yes, father of Club Brugge midfielder Aleksandar – simply had a better plan.
Lille did not have time to play football, had hardly any chances and never seemed to have control of the match. And although the visitors did not immediately sparkle, it did play more clearly – with some nice footballers as a cautious x-factor.
The fact that Red Star would ultimately win in a lame way did not actually deserve it. Just before half-time, Franklin Tebo scored the first and only goal of the match with his private parts. “They call that a Pietgoal,” our commentator Filip Joos also saw.
The end justifies the means, right?
On the other side, we still have to say a word about Nathan Ngoy. In the absence of the injured Thomas Meunier and the benched Arnaud Bodart, he brought the Belgian link tonight.
The young Red Devil – who has one selection, but no cap yet – was, at the age of 22, the rock in the defense of a Lille that was looking for something different. Not everything was as precise, but with a few tackles and good interventions he saved his team from a bigger blow.
Although he too could not avert defeat.
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An extra 7 minutes will be added.
Cold shower for Lille, just before half time: 0-1
An extra minute of time is added.
Players to look out for:
Lille’s selection contains many old acquaintances from Belgian football. For example, Nathan Ngoy – who was called up for the first time for the Red Devils in November – will probably take a central position in the defense again.
Thomas Meunier will not flank him due to an injury. And goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart (ex-Standard) will most likely watch from the bench. So it will have to come from ex-Buffalo Matias Fernandez-Pardo, who often provides the flashes as a wing player.
Furthermore, it will also be a reunion with two renowned strikers: at Lille Giroud is the attack leader, at Red Star Belgrade Arnautovic has to provide the goals. Kylian Mbappé’s little brother, Ethan Mbappé, is out due to an injury.
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