UEFA Champions League, Round of 16, March 4, 2025
Lille OSC visited Signal Iduna Park to play Borussia Dortmund, who have been improving under new coach Niko Kovac, replacing Nuri Sahin. Despite Bruno Génésio considering his Lille side as underdogs, they performed strongly in the Champions League, achieving a 1-1 draw in Germany.
Match Summary
The match began energetically with both Dortmund in yellow and Lille in white quickly exchanging possession. Benjamin André took an early shot for Lille, but it was blocked by Dortmund’s defense.
Dortmund then gained control. A dangerous attack from Champions League leading scorer Serhou Guirassy missed the target. Soon after, Karim Adeyemi’s skillful play on the right wing earned Dortmund a corner.
The corner kick led back to Adeyemi, positioned outside the box. He struck the ball first-time, sending it powerfully into the bottom left corner of the goal.
Dortmund nearly scored again just before halftime from a corner scramble finished by Pascal Groß, but it was correctly ruled offside. This close call highlighted a defensive vulnerability for Lille.
In the second half, Lille adopted a more patient approach, building their attacks gradually. This change allowed Jonathan David, who was quiet in the first half, to become more involved in the game.
David’s presence significantly improved Lille’s attack. He drew fouls and brought a physical element to the match as Dortmund tried to overpower them. David’s crucial pass found Hákon Arnar Haraldsson, who scored past Kobel to equalize.
With twenty minutes remaining, neither team could score the decisive goal. Lille will be more content with the draw, securing a positive result at Dortmund’s home ground before the second leg at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Lille Player Ratings
Lucas Chevalier – 5
Ismaily – 5
Ismaily faced a tough challenge defending against Karim Adeyemi, appearing overwhelmed at times in the first half. He improved in the second half along with the team’s overall performance. He was substituted late in the game by Gabriel Gudmundsson due to exhaustion.
Alexsandro – 6
Bafodé Diakité – 5
Thomas Meunier – 6
Benjamin André – 8
Ayyoub Bouaddi – 6
Ngal’ayel Mukau – 5
Hákon Arnar Haraldsson – 7
Ethan Mbappé – 5
Mbappé was a surprising inclusion in the starting lineup, having played in the recent defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. Starting as a right winger, he showed initial dynamism but his impact diminished. He was often outmuscled and his crosses lacked precision. He was replaced by Mathis Fernandez Pardo in the second half.
Jonathan David – 7
David had a quiet first half, being largely uninvolved. Lille adjusted their strategy at halftime, which allowed David to influence the game more. He contributed to build-up play and threatened the Dortmund defense.
Borussia Dortmund Selected Player Ratings
Emre Can – 5
Karim Adeyemi – 7
Serhou Guirassy – 5
A subdued game for the Champions League’s top scorer against his former club. Despite one good scoring opportunity early on, his influence decreased as the match progressed.