Lille staged a stunning 3-1 comeback against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League, with Jonathan David scoring twice to lead the French side to victory and boost their chances of advancing from the group stage. This win marks Lille’s second straight triumph over a Madrid club, following their 1-0 upset against Real Madrid earlier in October.
Atlético struck first in the 8th minute when Julián Álvarez capitalized on a poor back pass by Lille defender Ousmane Toure, slotting the ball home to put the hosts ahead. Lille’s troubles deepened shortly after, as midfielder Rémy Cabella was forced off with an injury in the 16th minute, bringing Edon Zhegrova off the bench.
Despite dominating the first half, Atlético missed several chances to extend their lead. Alexander Sørloth squandered three golden opportunities, while Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier made key saves to keep his side within reach.
Lille turned the game around in the second half. Zhegrova, the substitute, leveled the score in the 61st minute with a brilliant left-footed strike into the top corner. Atlético nearly responded through Antoine Griezmann, but the French forward sent his volley over the crossbar.
In the 74th minute, David gave Lille the lead from the penalty spot after being fouled in the box. The Canadian international sealed the victory with his second goal in the 89th minute, a deflected shot that left Atlético’s defense scrambling.
With this victory, David became the highest-scoring Canadian in Champions League history, surpassing Tomasz Radzinski with six goals. Lille now sit on six points in the group, while Atlético remain on three, adding to the pressure on coach Diego Simeone’s struggling side.
Lille coach Bruno Genesio praised his team’s resilience after the match: “We had a difficult start, but we stayed focused and made the most of our chances. This win brings us closer to the knockout stages.”
Lille will look to carry this momentum into their next Champions League clash against Celtic on November 5.
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