REAL MADRID’S 36-game unbeaten run collapsed as Lille stunned the Champions League holders.
Jonathan David‘s penalty also stopped Los Blancos equalling a club record of 15 straight games in Europe’s top club competition without defeat.
5
Carlo Ancelotti‘s LaLiga champs have stuttered all season.
Yet until now they had not tasted a loss since Atletico Madrid KO’d them 4-2 after extra-time in the Copa del Rey in January.
And Real‘s last Champions League reverse was as long ago as May 2023 – a 4-0 semi-final second-leg loss to Manchester City at the Etihad.
But Lille were as impressive for the first hour as Los Blancos were subdued for large spells.
And only Real keeper Andriy Lunin’s breathtaking double save denied Canadian striker David.
Finally, in first-half stoppage-time, VAR ruled Eduardo Camavinga had blocked Edon Zhegrova’s free-kick with his arm.
And David – long linked with Premier League clubs – fired home the resulting spot kick.
Real’s England midfielder Jude Bellingham was booked as his side struggled.
5
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
But Kylian Mbappe – returning following a thigh problem – came off the bench to help Ancelotti’s men pile on the pressure late on.
Ex-Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger had a header cleared off the line.
Arda Guler then nodded a gaping chance straight at Lille stopper Lucas Chevalier.
Nonetheless, the French hosts will feel they deservedly held on for one of their finest ever victories.
And to make things worse for Mbappe, his 17-year-old younger brother Ethan, who only missed out on playing for Lille due to a muscle problem, was shown by TNT Sports LEADING the home team’s dressing-room celebrations.
And for Real their mediocre form now faces its most intensive examination.
Barcelona are three points clear of Los Blancos in LaLiga.
And Real are at home to third-placed Villarreal on Saturday.
But it’s in the Champions League where Ancelotti might suffer the most heat.
Real did beat Stuttgart 3-1 in their opener last month.
But after Wednesday’s loss, they face Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Liverpool next.
Ancelotti’s side will still expect to finish in the top 24 and advance to from the new-look group stage.
However, they will need positive results in some tricky clashes if they are to finish in the top eight and punch a fast-track ticket to the last 16.
If they finish between 9th and 24th in the 36-team league, they will face an extra two-legged knockout tie.
5
