Table of Contents
Real Madrid will aim to make it two wins from two in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday when they travel to France to play Lille. The reigning European champions have started the season undefeated and are currently second in La Liga. They also won their first match of the new Champions League, recording a 3-1 victory over Stuttgart two weeks ago. They are the favorites to win consecutive games in Europe against Lille, who are off to a mediocre start this season. They have made three wins out of six in Ligue 1 and are in fifth place. They also lost 2-0 to Sporting Lisbon in their opening match in the Champions League.
Here’s what you need to know before you tune in.
How to watch and odds
- Date: Wednesday October 2 | Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Location: Stade Pierre-Mauroy – Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France
- Watch: Biggest+
- Chances: Lille +480; Sign +330; Real Madrid-180
Storylines
Real Madrid have been far from perfect this season, but like last season it may not matter much. The sense of inevitability that dominated their victories in La Liga and the Champions League last season has largely carried over into this campaign. Clean sheets are still somewhat elusive for Real Madrid – they have conceded goals in each of their last five games – but their ability to score, even when playing particularly well, remains their defining characteristic.
It obviously helps to gather a significant amount of the world’s best attacking talent. Vinicius Junior has three goals and five assists so far this season, while Rodrygo has three goals and two assists. Not to mention Kylian Mbappe, who has settled into life in Madrid well with seven goals and one assist in his first season at the club. He may have missed Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid but is in the squad to play against Lille this week, although the extent of his role is unknown at this time.
Prediction
With or without Mbappe, Real Madrid have all the tools they need to achieve their second consecutive Champions League win. Expect Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo to play big roles, as well as Jude Bellingham, last season’s breakout star, who will provide some brilliant moments even if Real can’t muster a perfect 90-minute performance. Choose: Lille 1, Real Madrid 3