Hakon Haraldsson’s crucial goal ensured Lille secured a valuable draw against Borussia Dortmund in the opening leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter.
The home side struck first when Karim Adeyemi produced a stunning finish during a dominant first-half display by last season’s runners-up. However, Lille regrouped after the interval, and Haraldsson’s effort restored parity, setting up a decisive second leg in France on Wednesday, 12 March (17:45 GMT).
The match started cautiously, with neither team creating clear chances early on. However, Dortmund found the breakthrough in the 22nd minute when Julian Ryerson’s corner was poorly cleared by Lille defender Alexsandro Ribeiro. Adeyemi capitalized on the loose ball, sending a well-executed half-volley into the bottom corner from the edge of the penalty area.
Dortmund nearly doubled their advantage before the interval when Pascal Gross found the net from close range following another set-piece situation. However, the goal was disallowed due to an offside decision, sparing the visitors from falling further behind.
Lille struggled to break through Dortmund’s defensive line in the first half, with their best chance coming from Thomas Meunier, who combined with Haraldsson before firing into the side-netting.
Lille’s resurgence after the break
The second half saw a transformed Lille side, pressing with greater intensity and creating more opportunities. Their efforts were rewarded when Icelandic midfielder Haraldsson latched onto Jonathan David’s precise through ball and, despite being off-balance, managed to slot the ball past Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.
David, a key attacking presence, played a significant role in Lille’s attacking resurgence. The Canadian forward, who is nearing the end of his contract, nearly found the net himself early in the second half, weaving past defenders before having his shot blocked by Daniel Svensson.
Lille substitute Andre Gomes was fortunate to avoid a red card in the closing stages after a reckless challenge that led to Svensson leaving the pitch injured. Despite late pressure from Dortmund, the visitors held firm to secure a draw.
Lille set their sights on history
With this hard-fought draw, Lille remain in contention to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in their history. Despite a lackluster first-half performance, they recovered well and showed glimpses of the quality that helped them finish above both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid in the competition’s league phase.
Their attacking duo of David and Haraldsson proved instrumental, combining effectively to trouble Dortmund’s defense. David, although unable to add to his impressive tally of six European goals this season, provided the crucial assist for the equalizer.
Lille can approach the second leg at Stade Pierre-Mauroy with confidence, given their strong home form. They have netted 11 goals across four matches on their own turf while remaining unbeaten against high-profile opponents such as Real Madrid, Juventus, Sturm Graz, and Feyenoord. With momentum on their side, they now have a golden opportunity to make club history.
