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UCL Preview: Lille head to Madrid
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Lille come into this match domestically in a strong fourth place in in Ligue 1 McDonald's, with the league's third-best defence and just two losses in their first eight matches. After a nervy scoreless draw in Monaco, they'll be forced to face Atlético with absences in several key areas. Right back Tiago Santos has been lost for an extended period of time, but for this encounter, he'll be joined on the sidelines by a raft of teammates, including Mitchell Bakker, Ismaily, Haakon Haraldsson and Ayoub Bouaddi.
It's the last of these that could prove crucial for Bruno Génésio's side. In midfield, with Nabil Bentaleb a long-term absentee and André Gomes not part of the team's European squad, Bouaddi has impressed since coming to the fore alongside Benjamin André, but in his absence, Génésio will likely turn to Ngal'ayel Mukau, another teenage midfielder but one with little experience at this level, having played a single season with the first team of Belgian side Mechelen last year. But as Bouaddi impressed from seemingly nowhere, particularly against Madrid, so too could Mukau, allowing Les Dogues the chance to the double over the two La Liga sides.
hosts in need of a rebound
With this somewhat makeshift team, Lille will face an Atléti side that remain unbeaten in the league, albeit with five draws to their five wins, good enough for third place. But for all their prowess domestically, their European struggles, something of a recurring theme in recent seasons, looked to have reared their head again prior to the break, as they were emphatically beaten, 4-0 by Benfica. The Portuguese side are of course dangerous on their day, but for a side led by Diego Simeone, a noted adherent to defensive solidity, to concede four goals, was something of a shock, and this will present itself as a real test for Los Colchoneros.
Of course, despite that slip-up, Atléti's rejigged attack also bears watching. Antoine Griezmann, recently retired from the French national team, is still pulling the strings, with three goals and four assists in the league, but summer signings Alexander Sørloth and Julián Alvarez are also dangerous, and the trio will be a danger going forward, even as the hosts' defence will miss Robin Le Normand.
Predicted lineups:
Atlético Madrid (4-3-3): Oblak; Molina, Witsel, Gimenez, Reinildo; De Paul, Koke, Gallagher; Alvarez, Sørloth, Griezmann
LOSC Lille (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Meunier, Diakité, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; Mukau, André; Zhegrova, Ángel Gomes, Cabella; David
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