Valencia (Spain) (AFP)
Lille, the last of its Champions League group, has almost said goodbye to Europe by losing to Valencia (4-1) a game where he has long led but where he finally collapsed Tuesday during the fourth day .
The young Mastiffs, in the process of learning at the highest level, have for a long time thought to hold this first victory, which would have confirmed their progress.
Like the goalkeeper Mike Maignan who hit the ball after the third goal Valencian, a missile signed Geoffrey Kondogbia (84), they believed more than ever, but this competition is decidedly that of their disappointment and lessons learned in pain.
For an hour, Grinta Lille silenced the concrete cathedral of Mestalla, between the cold realism of Victor Osimhen and the slaughter in the middle of Boubakary Soumaré.
But, again, it is an individual error that has revived the opponent, hitherto paralyzed by the stake of this "final" for the qualification: the hand of the captain José Fonte offered the penalty of equalization to Daniel Parejo (66th).
To reduce the fault to the Portuguese would be cruel, so his teammates also did not show in the second period the experience, or the level, necessary to seal these three points. When Yusuf Yazici missed the opportunity to kill the match (55), side Zeki Celik and Domagoj Bradaric were not up to crucial match.
It was on the flank of the first that Jose Gaya sent the center hijacked in his cages by Adama Soumaoro (82). And on the second side came the fourth goal, that of the correction, by Ferran Torres (90th).
- Ikoné last minute package -
A sum of details, again and again, the same as coach Christophe Galtier points to each post-match conference. If the rehash is the best method, then Lille can expect a blow in his last two games, against Ajax and Chelsea, to at least save the honor.
Because it's a miracle they will have to achieve if they want to see the 8th of the C1 or failing to conquer the third place synonymous with Europa League, because they will win their last two games, while recovering the difference in goal particular, and count on two victories of Valencia.
From this trip to the sun, the northern coach will remember the first hour, promising, and the goal of Victor Osimhen (25th).
While remaining on his longest scoreless streak since his arrival (three games), following a small injury to an adductor, the Nigerian has taken the crazy step forward which has revealed in the eyes of Europe this season.
Author of one of his worst matches in the first leg, the player has embodied this desire Lille to increase its intensity in a disheveled sprint of 40 meters, after which he beat Jasper Cillessen, for his second achievement in the competition .
But he too, late in the game, ran out of fuel to keep moving forward. Without Jonathan Ikoné, surprise package due to a minor car accident, the walk was still too high for Lille.
© 2019 AFP