Champions League: Lille beaten 4-2 by Galatasaray despite a brace from Soriba Diaoune

Lille lost 4-2 to Galatasaray at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday evening, and stay on zero points after three Champions League matchdays. The match was played under tightened security, after last weekend’s violence. The one bright note for the home side: young striker Soriba Diaoune, handed a start, scored twice.

A locked-down stadium, a game that went ahead

Last weekend, clashes broke out in central Lille: intruders entered the town hall, and the club shop was ransacked. Galatasaray asked UEFA for security guarantees for their trip to France, notably for their supporters’ travel; “this request does not concern a postponement of the match or a change of venue”, RMC Sport reported.

The Nord department had acted as early as 13 October: the prefectural decree bars anyone presenting themselves as a Galatasaray supporter or sympathiser from the stadium and its surroundings, outside the designated away section. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had ruled out a postponement: “The matches are not being called into question.”

The game turned either side of the break

Akgun opened the scoring in the 2nd minute; Diaoune equalised in the 7th, then put Lille ahead in the 39th. Between that goal and Batrakov’s equaliser, in the 44th, Lille led for just five minutes. After the restart, Özer turned the ball into his own net in the 52nd and Osimhen, back in the side, sealed the score. Olivier Giroud, on the bench at kick-off, came on in the 63rd minute.

Both teams had lost their first two matches; the first three points go to Galatasaray. Foot Mercato had described Lille coach Davide Ancelotti as “optimistic about their qualification chances” before the game. Next up is Ligue 1: on Sunday, fourth-placed Lille travel to fifth-placed Monaco, both on 14 points.