Lille enters its opening UEFA Champions League fixture of the season against Real Betis with veteran striker Olivier Giroud slated to begin the match on the bench, according to reports from Spanish radio outlet Cadena SER.
The Starting XI and Tactical Choices
According to match preparations outlined by Cadena SER, Davide Ancelotti is set to deploy a starting lineup featuring summer signing Ayase Ueda and Gaëtan Perrin in the attacking third.
The projected starting formation positions Berke Özer in goal behind a defensive backline comprising Tiago Santos, Nathan Ngoy, Alexsandro, and Romain Perraud. In midfield, Benjamin André and Nabil Bentaleb are expected to anchor the center of the pitch, accompanied by Ethan Mbappé and Hákon Haraldsson to support Perrin and Ueda in the attack.
Davide Ancelotti’s European Debut at Lille
UEFA records show that the Italian technician assumed managerial duties in June 2026, following a lengthy tenure as an assistant coach working alongside his father, Carlo Ancelotti, at elite European clubs including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid.
Lille earned direct qualification to the league phase after securing a third-place finish in the French domestic championship. Last season’s European journey concluded in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Europa League. In the UEFA Champions League, the club has previously reached the Round of 16 on three distinct occasions—during the 2006-2007, 2021-2022, and 2024-2025 campaigns, as noted by European football governing body records.
New Faces and Roster Additions
Among the key personnel changes for the club is Japanese forward Ayase Ueda. UEFA highlighted the summer arrival in its pre-tournament team presentations, noting that the striker joined the club following a spell with Dutch side Feyenoord, which he transferred to after departing Belgian club Cercle Bruges in August 2023.
Match Logistics and Traveling Support
Kickoff for the encounter is officially scheduled for 21:00 local time at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, corresponding to 20:00 in Benin, as confirmed by both participating clubs in their official matchday guides. Real Betis supporters will have a visible presence in northern France, backed by an allocation of 2,605 tickets in the away supporters’ sector. The Spanish club priced those seats at 30 euros each, reserving 2,084 spaces for club members while allocating the remaining 521 vouchers to official supporter associations.
Looking Ahead in Domestic and European Schedules
Following Tuesday’s European opener, Real Betis will quickly pivot back to domestic action with a Spanish league fixture away against Villarreal scheduled for September 14. Meanwhile, the club’s European calendar dictates a heavy-hitting home fixture in the Champions League against Portuguese side FC Porto on October 14 at 21:00.
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