Lille are on track for a historic Champions League achievement as they host Borussia Dortmund for the return leg of their round of 16 tie on Wednesday.
The French side has a chance to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in club history after a solid performance in the first leg last Tuesday.
While not a commanding advantage, Lille’s 1-1 draw at Dortmund gives them plenty of belief, especially with Stade Pierre-Mauroy, their fortress in European competition, standing as a significant asset.
LOSC have an impressive home record, winning 10 of their last 12 continental fixtures (D2), including victories over Sturm Graz, holders Real Madrid, and Feyenoord in this season’s group stage. Their strong home form also contributed to their 16-point total, ensuring a solid finish in the group stages.
This form was evident again at the weekend, as they beat Montpellier 1-0 in Ligue 1, with Jonathan David scoring early in the second half to secure the win.
A victory on Wednesday would see Lille secure their first-ever knockout tie win in the Champions League. However, they will need to break a recurring pattern, as last week’s draw marked the third consecutive stalemate in meetings between these sides.
In their previous encounters in the UEFA Cup fourth round in 2001-02, Dortmund progressed on away goals after two 1-1 draws, following a goalless draw in Germany.
Although Karim Adeyemi’s stunning half-volley in the first leg was a highlight, Hakon Arnar Haraldsson’s equalizer has left Lille needing to overcome a tough challenge to make it to back-to-back quarter-finals.
