Lille negotiated its return match well against Rijeka to qualify for the group stage of the Europa League Conference (1-1).
Despite the success obtained in the first leg a week ago (2-1), Lille approached this second leg against Rijeka in a particularly tense atmosphere. President Olivier Létang had not hidden his anger after the copy returned during the first confrontation against this Croatian team, three days before a rout suffered in Lorient (1-4).
Paulo Fonseca had therefore made strong choices for this return match. The Portuguese technician had kept his animation in 4-2-3-1, but he opted for Cavaleiro in his line of attack, alongside Zhegrova and Cabella, to support the irremovable David. André and André Gomes continued in the midfield while Yoro and Alexsandro formed a central hinge cobbled together on the job.
Lille trembled
The Mastiffs have again demonstrated their intention to hold the ball to take the game on their own. An approach that did not bear fruit since once again, the northern club lacked efficiency in the two areas of truth. It has become a trademark for a year and a half. Rijeka didn’t ask for that much. The local team took the opportunity to surprise the Mastiffs in the second half by Smolcic on a new defensive error (1-0, 58th). The score did not change and this qualification was therefore decided in extra time. At the end of the night, LOSC had the last word thanks to the inevitable Jonathan David, an opportunist to conclude one of the rare successful collective movements of Fonseca’s men (1-1, 108th). Mission accomplished.
