Lille OSC – Juventus: A Chess Game Without A Winner (1-1)

In a match in which the managers tried to obtain control of the game from the beginning, two sparkling individual plays were enough to disrupt coaches’ plans. Both teams showcased the 4-2-4 out-of-possession shape that we see often these days. After a balanced opening phase, Lille opened the score, but Juventus’ in-game adjustments earned a way back into the game.

Tactical analysis and match report by Agostino Dosselli.

In a compelling fourth-round clash of the Champions League, Lille and Juventus went head-to-head, each sitting on six points but on diverging paths. Lille, unbeaten over the past two months, had notched up remarkable victories against Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid and Atlético

On the flip side, Juventus was seeking defensive stability after losing their best defenders to injury and needed another victory to avoid jeopardizing their chances of making it to the top eight. 

Lille set up in a traditional 4-4-2 formation. They had Lucas Chevalier as goalkeeper, a solid defensive line from right to left comprising Aïssa Mandi, Bafodé Diakité, Alexsandro, and Gabriel Gudmundsson. In midfield, Benjamin André and Ayyoub Bouaddi were tasked with disrupting Juventus' offensive plays. They turned out to be fundamental during the spells in which Lille defended in a low block, because they were tasked to clear any dangerous cut-back made by the opponent team.

The wingers Edon Zhegrova and Osame Sahraoui were crucial for their pace and technique, capable of creating numerical superiority. Up front Angel Gomes played a more defensive role, often dropping back to support the midfield, while Jonathan David - in excellent form - remained . . .