The teams are out at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. So, after a blast of the iconic Champions League anthem, kick-off will be just moments away!
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Meanwhile, Pellegrini makes four changes to the Real Betis team that started against Real Madrid in Seville. Bartra and Firpo both come into the back four, while Riquelme replaces Marc Roca. The matchwinner in that clash, Parrott is rewarded with a first Champions League start, taking the place of Hernandez up front. Diego Llorente and Abde Ezzalzouli are still unavailable, but Ceballos has been named on the bench.
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Following last week’s win in Toulouse, Ancelotti makes three changes to the Lille XI. Most notably, Ueda is promoted from the bench after scoring the winner on his debut, as Giroud drops out. Now 39 years old, the latter has 24 goals from 64 Champions League appearances, including hat-tricks for both Arsenal and Chelsea. Perraud and Perrin are also brought in, with Verdonk and Sahraoui making way.
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SUBS: Diego Conde, Manu Gonzalez, Cucho Hernandez, Fran Garcia, Angel Ortiz, Alvaro Fidalgo, Valentin Gomez, Nelson Deossa, Giovani Lo Celso, Marc Roca, Dani Ceballos, Jose Antonio Morante.
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REAL BETIS (4-3-3): Alvaro Valles; Hector Bellerin, Marc Bartra, Natan, Junior Firpo; Pablo Fornals, Facundo Bernal, Isco; Antony, Troy Parrott, Rodrigo Riquelme.
While Ancelotti Junior is a rookie, Real Betis will be the fifth club Manuel Pellegrini has managed in the Champions League, after Villarreal, Real Madrid, Malaga and Manchester City. His side finished fifth in La Liga last season, which proved enough to secure just their first second appearance, and the first since the 2005-06 campaign. Betis warmed up for this trip to France with an impressive 1-0 win over Real Madrid on Friday, making it three wins from four games so far.
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Competing in UEFA's top tournament for the second time in three seasons - having reached the knockout rounds in 2024-25 - Lille finished third in Ligue 1 last term. Les Dogues have started the current campaign positively, too, defeating Angers and Toulouse either side of pushing Paris Saint-Germain all the way before settling for a 2-2 draw. Now, new coach Davide Ancelotti will oversee his first Champions League match as manager, following in the footsteps of father Carlo, whose 218 games are a competition record.
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Hello and welcome to live coverage of today's Champions League clash between Lille and Real Betis at Stade Pierre-Mauroy!
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Wearing their traditional red and dark blue, the hosts kick off: we are under way in Lille!
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Betis force an early corner, which is intially headed away at the near post by Lille captain Andre. Though the ball then runs nicely for Fornals, the midfielder's hurried 20-yard shot clears the crossbar by several feet.
2'
Betis' bright start continues. Played through by Isco on the edge of the box, Riquelme takes one touch before lashing a rising shot over the top.
3'
Neither side is shy of a shot! Now, Alexsandro decides to let fly from almost 30 yards out. Perhaps inevitably, the Lille defender's attempt is sent high into the stand.
4'
After Parrott sees a low shot blocked on the right edge of the box, Betis build again, and Isco has two quickfire attempts shut down. Confidence must be high in the Spanish side's camp, following such a statement win over Real Madrid.
6'
As things stand, Lille have a 45% chance of victory according to Opta's live win predictor, compared to 28% for Real Betis. The latter have won just two of their last 10 away fixtures, so that may explain that status as clear underdogs.
8'
Delivering a free-kick from out wide on the right, Andre clears a packed penalty area and Lille waste a good set-piece opportunity. Real Betis will restart play with a throw-in deep inside their own half.
10'
Assist Ethan Mbappé
12'
Goal Ayase Ueda
12'
Ngoy does well to halt a charge into the area by Riquelme, who has looked lively during the opening stages. Betis seem slightly sharper in the final third.
11'
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! LILLE LEAD! It's 1-0 to Les Dogues! A slick move is capped off by Ueda's close-range finish at the back post! Santos and Mbappe combine neatly on the right, before the latter picks out Lille's new striker in the six-yard box. That's two goals in as many games for the prolific Japan international!
12'
That's Ueda's third Champions League goal, having previously scored twice for Feyenoord. He netted a league-leading 25 top-flight goals in the Eredivisie last term, and Lille certainly look to have made a good acquistion.
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That's Ueda's third Champions League strike, having previously scored twice for Feyenoord. He netted a league-leading 25 top-flight goals in the Eredivisie last term, and Lille certainly look to have made a good acquisition.
14'
Despite creating more than their hosts in the early stages, Real Betis are now one goal down and are having to quell Lille's momentum. Pellegrini's side are sitting a little deeper now.
16'
Lille's purple patch continues, as Perrin races forward towards the area, forcing Antony into a foul. So, they'll have a free-kick around 20 yards from goal, on the left edge of the area.
18'
Having won the free-kick, Perrin duly steps up to take it. However, his attempt crashes straight into a solid defensive wall comprised of three green-and-white Betis shirts.
19'
After collecting possession from Santos on the right wing, Mbappe gets his head up and finds goalpoacher Ueda in the box.
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While Betis are only making their second appearance at this level, Lille are relatively experienced. Today's hosts have won eight of their last 15 matches in the Champions League (D2 L5) - two more than in the first 41 - and reached the knockout phase in 2025.
22'
So far, Lille have only edged the possession share with 52%, but crucially they've produced 0.57 more xG than their visitors and have seized a precious lead.
24'
Pressured into a challenge by Haraldsson's surge, Fornals trips his opponent and concedes a free-kick midway through the Betis half. The set-piece is then chipped towards the back post, but the assistant swiftly raises his flag to indicate offside.
26'
Given their excellent start to the new Spanish season, it's a slight surprise that Real Betis are struggling to get a foothold in this contest. Since going ahead, Lille have largely looked in control.
28'
As Lille continue to apply pressure, Pellegrini - now the first coach to manage four different La Liga teams in the Champions League - must be contemplating changes. If not in terms of personnel, at least tactical.
30'
At the end of a promising move forward by Betis, Antony's reverse pass frees Bellerin on the right, but the full-back's low delivery is blocked behind for a corner.
32'
Goal Marc Bartra
33'
Assist Pablo Fornals
33'
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!! BETIS BITE BACK! The visitors are level at 1-1! Following a right-sided corner, Fornals curls an inviting cross high towards the centre of the box, where Bartra rises highest and guides his header past Berker into the back of the net!
33'
After receiving the ball at a corner, Fornals delivers a superb cross from the right and sets up Bartra to score.
33'
Goal Alexsandro Victor de Souza Ribeiro
36'
Clever combination play by Bentaleb and Andre almost sends Santos through into the box, but Firpo lunges in to make a crucial tackle - albeit at the cost of a corner.
35'
Assist Gaëtan Perrin
36'
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!!!! LILLE RESTORE THEIR LEAD! The hosts are quickly back in front! Meeting Perrin's outswinging corner near the penalty spot, Alexsandro leaps up above his marker and powers an unstoppable header into the top-right corner! It's suddenly 2-1 to Lille!
36'
An excellent set-piece delivery by Perrin sets up Lille's second goal, as his wonderful corner finds Alexsandro's head in the box.
36'
CHANCE! Parrott can't guide the ball home at full stretch! After Isco races into the left side of the area and delivers a pacy cross, the Irish striker is unable to keep his close-range attempt down and it clears the crossbar! A lucky escape for Lille!
39'
Undeterred by their second setback, Real Betis are pushing for an equaliser before the break. The away side have finally found some rhythm.
41'
WIDE! Pressure by Bellerin forces a turnover just inside Lille's half, and the ball runs nicely for Antony. Having taken a couple of touches to advance the ball further, the Brazilian winger unleashes a low shot from around 25 yards out; however, it scuds a few feet wide of the right-hand post!
43'
It's all Betis now, as green-and-white jerseys flood into the opposition half. Can Pellegrini's men get back on level terms ahead of half-time?
45'
There will be a minimum of two added minutes at the end of this busy first half, and Real Betis are still in the ascendancy. Lille skipper Andre bundles Isco over and concedes a free-kick midway through his own half.
45'
CLOSE! Following a free-kick, Fornals is teed up nicely on the edge of the Lille box, and he whips a curling shot just wide of the left-hand post! It was always drifting away, but it's a good attempt by the experienced midfielder!
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HALF-TIME: LILLE 2-1 REAL BETIS
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The first half of Lille's Champions League opener ends with the hosts leading Real Betis 2-1 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Les Dogues showed their bite by seizing an early lead through Ueda's close-range header, but Barta replied for Betis in the 33rd minute. Soon after, Alexsandro also headed home, finding the top corner to put Lille back in front. That stirred Betis into a reaction, producing shots from Parrott, Antony and Fornals - however, they couldn't pull level before the break. The visitors' late rally took their xG up to 1.2 from 12 attempts, though only one found the target; meanwhile, Lille's xG stands at 0.79 so far.
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Captaining Betis today, Isco had previously played 78 games in the Champions League, winning 50. If that tally is to reach 51, his team must continue in the same vein they finished that first half, playing with more verve and taking some risks. According to Opta's live win predictor, Lille's chance of victory has cranked up to almost 70%, so even a draw might be acceptable for the Spanish side now.
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Substitution Nabil Bentaleb Ngal'ayel Mukau
46'
Real Betis kick off, and we're back under way in Lille!
46'
Ancelotti has made a change to his Lille XI at the interval: Bentaleb makes way for Mukau in midfield.
46'
Goal Marc Bartra
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Assist Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez
49'
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!! BETIS ARE LEVEL AGAIN! Bartra bags a brace! Santos fells Parrott by the left touchline, conceding a free-kick that Isco then takes. His pinpoint delivery finds Bartra in the six-yard box, and slight glance off his head is enough to send the ball into the bottom-right corner. So. it's 2-2 at the start of the second half - game on!
49'
Using all his quality from dead-ball situations, Isco sends in a superb free-kick from the left wing to set up Bartra's second strike.
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Goal Troy Parrott
53'
Assist Rodrigo Riquelme
53'
CLOSE! Antony tries his luck once again! Betis are banging on the door now! Teed up by his Brazilian compatriot Natan, the winger takes one touch then fires a low 20-yard shot just wide of the left-hand post!
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Red Card Ethan Mbappé
56'
Yellow Card Natan Bernardo de Souza
56'
GOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!! REAL BETIS COMPLETE THE COMEBACK! Parrott puts the Spanish side 3-2 ahead in northern France! Riquelme holds off a challenge in midfield, then plays the ball forward to his new team-mate. The Irish striker still has plenty to do, but he surges into the area, takes a touch to open out the angle, then arrows a clinical finish into the bottom-right corner!
53'
LILLE DOWN TO 10 MEN! Mbappe sees red - figuratively and literally! He reacts to provocation from Natan by swinging an elbow at the Betis defender. After a quick VAR review, the referee decides the Lille forward must walk!
56'
Due to a coming-together with Mbappe, Natan picks up the game's first yellow card.
56'
Yellow Card Facundo Bernal
61'
Well, it's been quite a few minutes for Betis. First, they draw level and swiftly take the lead, then their hosts are reduced to 10 men. This is a golden opportunity to claim maximum points on the opening matchday - can they take it?
58'
Substitution Francisco Román Alarcón Suárez Álvaro Fidalgo
61'
Substitution Natan Bernardo de Souza Valentín Gómez
61'
Substitution Gaëtan Perrin Dilane Bakwa
61'
Remarkably, Lille's chance of victory has dropped from nearly 70% down to 3%, while Betis have an 80% chance now - that's according to Opta's live supercomputer.
60'
Bernal clearly hauls back Haraldsson in midfield and can't argue with his yellow card.
61'
Ancelotti belatedly responds to the new set of circumstances, sending on Bakwa to replace Perrin.
61'
Meanwhile, Betis make two changes. First, Natan - who was involved in the incident that saw Mbappe sent off - is replaced by Gomez.
61'
Isco also makes way, with Fidalgo his replacement for the final half-hour.
61'
Breaking forward once again, lively right-back Santos skips past one challenge on the edge of the Betis box, but his cross is too high and fails to find a team-mate.
63'
Bakwa's smart backheel tees up Santos again, but his latest delivery from the right side is sent just in front of Ueda, who was lurking with intent near the back post.
65'
Substitution Facundo Bernal Marc Roca
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Pellegrini introduces more fresh legs in an effort to hold out for the win: Bernal makes way for Roca.
67'
Pellegrini introduces more fresh legs in an effort to hold out for the win: on a booking, Bernal makes way for Roca.
67'
It has been 34 minutes since Lille last attempted a shot, but they are getting more bodies forward now. Of course, that brings some risk, as they're down to 10 men and Betis can be quite lethal on the break.
69'
Yellow Card Marc Roca
71'
A cynical foul by Roca results in a yellow card soon after his arrival from the bench. Abruptly halting Lille's counter-attack, he virtually rugby-tackles Ueda.
71'
Possession was shared almost equally in the first half, but Betis have stepped up a gear since the break. Now aided by having extra man, they've had 62% of the ball during this half. It's looking a little bleak for Lille.
73'
Substitution Benjamin André Maurits Kjærgaard
77'
SAVE! Ozer denies Roca! When the ball breaks nicely for the Real Betis sub, he lines up a 25-yard attempt. It's certainly struck well enough, but the goalkeeper is able to make a clean stop down towards his right.
75'
Substitution Ayase Ueda Olivier Giroud
77'
Ancelotti turns to his bench again. First, Kjaergaard replaces Lille captain Andre.
77'
And 39-year-old Giroud is finally introduced for his 65th Champions League appearance; opening goalscorer Ueda makes way.
77'
After exchanging passes with Bellerin on the right wing, space opens up for Riquelme. However, the latter can only prod his angled shot well wide of the left-hand post.
78'
Substitution Rodrigo Riquelme Nelson Deossa
81'
Substitution Junior Firpo Fran García
81'
Santos is to the fore again, this time using the outside of his boot to skilfully play through Giroud. The veteran striker then finds his angle narrowed by Valles, who comfortably smothers an attempted chip. Lille will have to settle for a corner.
80'
Two more changes for the away side: first, Riquelme is replaced by Deossa.
81'
There's also a switch at left-back, where Firpo makes way for Fran Garcia.
81'
CLOSE! Lille almost find a late leveller! Following superb link-up play by Haraldsson and Bakwa on the left, Giroud sees his close-range shot kept out by a brilliant last-ditch block by Gomez. From the resulting corner-kick, Deossa heads the ball narrowly over his own crossbar!
83'
Antony's rather hopeful 25-yarder is blocked behind by Alexsandro, so Real Betis have a corner. Rather than delivering it into the box, they sagely use possession to soak up some time, switching the ball around in midfield while the clock ticks down.
85'
Substitution Romain Perraud Basar Önal
88'
With the final whistle fast approaching, Ancelotti plays his last card: Onal will replace Perraud.
88'
SAVE! Yet again, Antony cuts inside onto his left foot and seeks out the bottom-left corner. This attempt is nearer to finding its target, but Ozer is alert and dives down quickly to palm it away! That would've finished the contest.
90'
Into at least five minutes of stoppage time, Lille are trying to carve out one more scoring chance. Having led at half-time, they'll be desperate to avoid defeat on home turf.