for Lille, the march was still too high

Seven years they were waiting for that. A Champions League match in Lille. And in a crowded Pierre-Mauroy stadium with a closed roof, the Lille fans celebrated Wednesday (October 2nd) the return of the Losc in the queen competition in Europe. But the celebrations came to a halt after Chelsea's victory and lesson in realism (1-2), leaving Lille second in Group H.

Christophe Galtier had urged his players, young shoots for the most part, to "Play, play, play and play" to level the Champions League. But from the start of the match, his men ran after the ball. "We tried to play but, in front, there was a very very good team, blew midfielder Benjamin André. They put us a big pressing as soon as they lost the ball and were very strong in the control and especially the transition. "

Like Ajax in Amsterdam on the first day of the group stage (3-0 win), Frank Lampard's men tried to put the head of the Dogues under the water. And Tammy Abraham, well found by Reece James – two nuggets from the London Academy – was quick to use gloves Mike Maignan.

Mastiffs not reassuring in defense

Claimed by English and Nigerian selections – if he has two capes in friendly with the Three Lions, he "Has not made his choice yet, and focuses on his club" -, the striker benefits, after twenty minutes of play, misalignment of Lille defense to deceive the French goalkeeper and open the mark. And to offer, the day of his birthday, the first goal of his career in the Champions League (0-1, 22^e).

deploring "Shyness, again, early in the game" of his men, Lille coach Christophe Galtier highlighted the gap between his team and the squad London, "Who is used to playing this kind of matches every weekend, the European Cup all seasons. And we saw the difference. It was sometimes glaring, between two teams, however, betting on very promising young players.

Dominated, and after running behind the ball and the opponent during the start of the meeting, the Lille were rebuffed somewhat after the opening of the mark, and chained counter-attacks flash, trademark of this team. Without reassuring in defense, the teammates of Benjamin André manage to be dangerous.

A new goal for the inevitable Osimhen

And it's the inevitable Victor Osimhen, that the Nigerian Football Federation dreams of associating with his opponent – Abraham – evening, which equalizes, ten minutes from the break. Scorer at each of his appearances in the enclosure of Villeneuve-d'Ascq, the Nigerian international striker takes literally the words of his coach Tuesday, saying that he "Can still work his head game". A helmet hit, on a corner wakes up the Lille stadium, as if paralyzed by the start of his own (1-1, 33^e).

Play, José Fonte's teammates tried to do it, but intermittently. And if they did not go far, in the second half, to write the exact copy of their goal – this time, the London porter Kepa managed to touch the head of Benjamin André – they also offered many spaces to the individualities of the Blues.

Banned last summer, Chelsea did not show a conquering face, in a meeting with many inaccuracies. And N'Golo Kanté's partners, once again a metronome at the heart of the game, have sometimes "Scary" against Lille offensives.

Lille already at the foot of the wall

But to discover himself, it is cold, and Willian has cooled the whole stage of a superb recovery of volley at the fall of a bell of the incoming Callum Hudson-Odoi (1-2, 78^e). The young player trained in Chelsea has deposited, on the action, Yusuf Yazici, just entered the game side Lille. As a symbol of a part where the choices of a coach – Lampard – paid, when those of his opponent – Galtier -, showed the limits of his team.

The Lille could have hoped for a better fate, like Osimhen, sending over the bar the conclusion of a counter-attack late in the game. But, like Lyon at the same time in Leipzig, Chelsea gave Lillois still green a lesson in realism. "Tonight, you had to compete in all areas, tactical, technical … and be 110%, concluded the Lille technician. It took strength, and we realize that there is a difference between them and us. My players gave everything, but it was not enough. "

Seven years that the public was waiting for the return of his club in the Champions League. Good last in their group, with two defeats in two games, the Lille have already largely mortgaged their dreams of qualifying for the knockout stages of the European competition and must absolutely beat Valencia in the next game to hope. After Amsterdam, Losc, who has not won a European Cup at home since August 2012, continues his tough apprenticeship at the highest level. To him to remember the lessons, if he wants to prolong his adventure in Europe. Wednesday, the march was still too high.