Madrid, Oct 3: Kylian Mbappe came off the bench but couldn’t prevent defending champion Real Madrid from losing 1-0 at unheralded Lille in the revamped Champions League.
With Mbappe a substitute after a minor hamstring injury, the opening goal came from Canada striker Jonathan David ‘s penalty deep into first-half stoppage time.
A video review ruled that midfielder Eduardo Camavinga handled the ball.
David scored a hat trick last weekend and shot confidently past goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, who was replacing the injured Thibaut Courtois. Mbappe came on in the 57th.
It was Madrid’s first loss in the competition since a 4-0 hammering by Manchester City in the 2023 semifinal return leg.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti did not excuse his players.
“We made a lot of errors. In the first half, we had a lot of issues in the transitions,” he said.
“We weren’t aggressive enough. We weren’t able to create chances, we weren’t great in possession. We were slow, we lacked ideas. We have forwards that need to play vertically, and, if we can’t supply that, it’s difficult. … It was the same the last time we lost a match.” Madrid hadn’t lost in 36 official matches, since a 4-2 defeat in extra time to Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey in January.
A brighter note saw Brazil teenager Endrick becoming the youngest Champions League starter for Madrid at 18 years, 73 days old.
He surpassed the mark set by former Madrid great Raúl González, who was 18 years, 78 days old when he faced Ajax in 1995.
Liverpool coach Arne Slot got his first taste of a European night at Anfield and saw his team beat Bologna 2-0, thanks to goals from midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and prolific forward Mohamed Salah, who set up the first goal.
Salah teased the defense with an 11th-minute cross for Mac Allister to score from close range and curled in a rising shot in the 75th as Liverpool carried over the confidence from easing past AC Milan 3-1 at San Siro two weeks ago.
Bologna, playing in the competition for the first time in 60 years, is still looking for a goal after drawing 0-0 with Shakhtar Donetsk in the first round. (AP)
