Borussia Dortmund’s Champions League campaign took a frustrating turn as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Lille in their last-16 first-leg clash on Tuesday.
Karim Adeyemi fired Dortmund ahead in the 22nd minute, smashing a precise low shot from the edge of the box. The Bundesliga side looked in control, but a lapse in concentration in the second half proved costly.
Lille’s Jonathan David capitalized on Dortmund’s sluggish defending in the 68th minute, threading a perfectly timed pass to Hakon Haraldsson, who coolly slotted past Gregor Kobel to level the score.
Dortmund, last season’s Champions League runners-up, now face a must-win showdown in France next week if they hope to stay in the competition and salvage a lackluster season.
For Lille, the draw marks a historic opportunity as they chase their first-ever spot in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Dortmund’s season has been a struggle, sitting mid-table in the Bundesliga and needing a playoff victory over Sporting Lisbon just to reach the knockout stages. Under new coach Niko Kovac, they’ve shown signs of improvement, keeping four clean sheets in six games. However, their defensive frailties resurfaced at the worst moment against Lille.
The French side, who impressed in the group stage with wins over both Madrid clubs and Feyenoord, handed Ethan Mbappe—brother of Real Madrid-bound Kylian—his first UCL start.
Dortmund had a second goal disallowed just before halftime, with Pascal Gross caught offside. But as the game wore on, Lille grew stronger, and Haraldsson’s composed finish ensured the tie remains wide open heading into the second leg.
