Freiburg progress to UEFA Europa League last 16 despite late Lille defeat

Freiburg have qualified for the UEFA Europa League round of 16 despite losing 1-0 against Lille in their final league phase match. German Midfielder Maximilian Eggestein was also sent off in the second half for the visitors.

Lille 1-0 Freiburg 

Goals: Giroud 90+1 (pen)

Freiburg have advanced to the next stage of the UEFA Europa League despite losing their final league phase match against Lille in added-time. The match picked up in the second half after an uneventful first 45 minutes, with both sides having decent chances to take the lead. 

Freiburg boss Julian Schuster lost a key man in the 74th minute, when Maximilian Eggestein was red-carded for a dangerous late tackle on Matias Fernańdez-Pardo, which will see the German midfielder serve a ban in the next round. 

In the end, it was hosts Lille, needing to earn at least a point tonight to stay in the European competition, who won the game right at the death, after Giroud hammered a penalty into the corner of Noah Atubolu's net. With a seventh-place finish in the Europa League table, Freiburg will now advance to the last 16 of the competition, while Lille are heading for the play-offs after climbing up to 18th on the final matchday. 

As it happened! 

1 - 0

(0 - 0)

Lille

FINAL

Freiburg

Europa League
League phase, Matchday 8 League phase, Matchday 8 Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille

Full-time: Lille 1-0 Freiburg

Freiburg have qualified for the last 16 of the UEFA Europa League despite losing tonight's game in added-time. The match picked up in the second half after an uneventful first 45 minutes, with both sides having decent chances before Eggestein was dismissed for a dangerous challenge. However, it was hosts Lille, needing to earn at least a point tonight to stay in the European competition, who won the game right at the death, after Giroud hammered home a penalty kick. Freiburg therefore finish seventh in the league phase table, while Lille's win lifts them into 18th - enough to qualify for the play-offs.

© IMAGO/Arne Amberg

Full-time

90'

+ 1

Giroud scores from the spot!

Nerveless from the veteran forward, who drilled it into the roof of the net. That should wrap up all three points for Lille.

90'

+ 1

Giroud

GOAL!

1:0

Penalty

90'

Penalty to Lille!!

Irié brings down Fernández-Pardo after some lovely footwork from the Lille forward. It'll be Giroud to take the pen...

89'

Atubolu called into action

Giroud is already making his presence felt. Atubolu punches a cross away, having just gotten ahead of the former Chelsea and Arsenal man.

85'

Five minutes left to play

Lille have thrown on Giroud in the hopes of scoring a late winner. It's the home side who are pushing forward, wanting to make sure of their place in the UEL play-offs. By contrast, Freiburg look content to sit in and take the point.

80'

Substitution

Perraud

Verdonk

80'

Substitution

Anthony Jung

Yuito Suzuki

80'

Substitution

Patrick Osterhage

Johan Manzambi

80'

Substitution

Giroud

Correia

Giroud set to come on

The 2018 World Cup winner is getting ready to come onto the pitch for the final 15 minutes or so. Can he win it for the hosts?

© IMAGO/Horacio Zamora Rios

73'

Eggestein is sent off!

The Freiburg midfielder is dismissed after a dangerous tackle on Fernández-Pardo. He arrived late to challenge the Lille forward, planting his studs on his opponent's ankle.

73'

Red card

Maximilian Eggestein

68'

Substitution

Cyriaque Irié

Niklas Beste

68'

Lille threaten again

The game has suddenly burst into life in the last 10 minutes or so. Lille are reasserting themselves, with Makau testing Abubolu from close range, who does well to hold onto his shot. A Santos effort from distance forces the Freiburg stopper into action moments later, but he is able to parry the ball to safety. This game is heating up nicely...

64'

Fernández-Pardo misses a huge chance!

What a let-off for Freiburg! The striker is played clean through on goal by Haraldsson, but Atubolu stands tall and reads his attempted chip shot like a book. That miss could be huge for the hosts, who can't afford to lose tonight's match.

59'

Substitution

Igor Matanović

Junior Adamu

Freiburg well on top this half

The away side come close to scoring again, as a cross from Beste is deflected just over Özer's crossbar. Due to scores elsewhere, if Freiburg take the lead, Lille will drop out of the play-off spots.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

59'

Substitution

Derry Scherhant

Vincenzo Grifo

55'

Adamu blazes over the bar!

Huge chance for the Freiburg striker. Suzuki plays the ball through to Adamu on the break, who brilliantly spins away from a Lille defender, and drives into the box. However, he can't quite keep his composure in front of goal, as his shot sails high over the crossbar.

50'

Ngoy recovers well from error

Adamu is almost played through on goal by the Lille defender! Ngoy misjudges his header, but manages to get a foot in on the Freiburg striker and turn the ball away for a corner-kick. It's arguably the Bundesliga outfit's biggest opportunity to score so far - which says a lot.

49'

Early set-pieces for Freiburg

The Breisgau Brazilians look most likely to score from set-pieces so far tonight. A long throw into the Lille box is followed by a floated Grifo free-kick, which puts the home side under some pressure.

46'

Second half gets going

We're back underway at Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Neither side have made any changes at the break.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Lille 0-0 Freiburg

It's been a half of football devoid of goalmouth action, although Lille have certainly looked the more threatening side in the final third. Freiburg, for their part, only need a point to qualify for the UEL last 16, and they're currently on track to get it, having defended impressively in a low-block shape. It certainly hasn't been a classic European tie, but as things stand, both sides are doing what they need to do to stay in the competition.

© IMAGO/Arne Amberg

Half-time

44'

Hosts win a corner

Freiburg are able to clear their lines after giving the corner away. Both defences have been well on top, especially when dealing with set-pieces.

40'

Five minutes until half-time

The two teams continue to cancel each other out heading into the half-time break. Adamu finds a bit of space inside the Lille box, but he is eventually crowded out by onrushing defenders.

35'

Freiburg venture forward

The away side attempt a long throw into the Lille box, but it's easily cleared. Understandably, Freiburg look reluctant to commit too many players forward - even when they appear to be comfortable in possession. Striker Adamu looks especially isolated, with his only shot at goal being blocked.

Neither side have hit top gear

We're at the 30-minute mark, but neither Lille nor Freiburg have created a clear-cut chance yet. Lille remain firmly on top, as the visitors have barely stepped inside the opposition penalty area. Then again, with Freiburg only needing a draw to finish inside the top eight of the league phase table, perhaps we shouldn't be too surprised.

© IMAGO/ Matthieu Mirville

27'

Ogbus impressing on his UEL debut

The young defender, making his European debut tonight, is reading the game very well, having stepped in to win the ball back from the Lille attackers on more than one occasion. With how deep Freiburg are currently sitting, it surely won't be the last time he is called upon.

23'

Haraldsson fires wide

The Lille striker collects a loose ball in the Freiburg half. He drives forward with it, eventually unleashing a shot from the edge of the box, which whistles a few yards wide of Atubolu's left post.

19'

Adamu receives some treatment

The striker takes a knock but soon gets back into the action. It looks like he'll be able to continue.

17'

Lille waste free-kick in good position

The hosts win a free-kick on the right-side of the pitch, just outside the Freiburg penalty area. However, Verdonk can't make the most of it, after his low-driven effort is easily cleared away.

14'

Freiburg finally get on the ball

Schuster's side are enjoying a spell of sustained possession for the first time in the game. They're not making any inroads just yet - as Grifo has just been flagged offside.

10'

Uneventful first 10 minutes

Lille have had more of the ball but haven't been able to do much with it thanks to Freiburg's pressing. The visitors look structured defensively, although they will hope to create some chances of their own soon - having failed to register a shot thus far.

5'

Good early pressing from away side

The Bundesliga side are putting Lille under early pressure and aren't allowing them to build out calmly from the back.

1'

We're underway!

Lille get the game started in northern France. The hosts are playing in red and navy blue, while Freiburg are in black and white.

Kick-off!

Table talk

Freiburg know that anything other than a defeat tonight will be enough to send them directly into the UEL Last 16. The German side are currently third in the league phase table, three points ahead of ninth-placed Porto - so even a defeat may see them finish inside the top eight. Lille, by contrast, are sitting in 21st, and just need a point or more to secure a spot in the play-offs.

© IMAGO/Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images

More on that Lille side

The hosts look set to line up in a classic 4-4-2 formation, with Haraldsson and Fernández-Pardo operating as the two strikers. Giroud, who started in Lille's 4-1 home loss to Strasbourg last weekend, drops to the bench, alongside Perraud and Mbemba. Ethan Mbappé, brother of Kylian, isn't in the matchday squad.

More on that Freiburg side

Julian Schuster makes five changes from the side that defeated Cologne last weekend, with Treu, Ogbus, Manzambi, Grifo and Adamu all starting tonight. Matanović, who scored the winning goal against Maccabi Tel Aviv last time out in the UEL, drops to the bench alongside Osterhage. Günter captains the side from left-back.

© DFL/Getty Images/Sebastian Widmann

Lille starting XI

Özer – Santos, Mandi, Ngoy, Verdonk – Mukau, André (c), Bouaddi, Correia – Haraldsson, Fernández-Pardo

Lille subs

Bodart, Lanssade, Alexsandro, Giroud, Broholm, Perraud, Mbemba, Diaoune, Baret, Boussadia, Lachaab

Freiburg starting XI

Atubolu – Treu, Ginter, Ogbus, Günter (c) – Eggestein, Manzambi – Beste, Suzuki, Grifo – Adamu

Freiburg subs

Müller, Huth, Jung, Osterhage, Scherhant, Irié, Höfler, Matanović, Makengo, Steinmann

Julian Schuster on facing Lille

“We’re heading to Lille expecting the toughest task of this group stage. They’re a team of the highest quality and ambition, and one that has also played in the Champions League.”

© IMAGO/JOERAN STEINSIEK

Bruno Génésio on facing Freiburg

“Freiburg are a team riding some very positive momentum, both in the Bundesliga and in the Europa League. They’re a proper team - attacking together and defending together, and they’re very effective from set-pieces."

© MIGUEL RIOPA

Scherhant confident

“The way we’ve performed in the Europa League this season is something to be proud of,” said the winger. “We’ll approach this match with the same level of focus, and so we’ll have a good chance.”

© DFL/Getty Images/Sebastian Widmann

Matanović eyes top spot

“We want three points - that’s clearly our objective. We’re in third place and want to solidify that position or even move into first. That would be a huge success. But it won’t be easy. We just want to keep our rhythm up.”

© Daniela Porcelli

Hosts out for victory

Lille are winless in their last five, and come into this game on the back of a defeat to Strasbourg in Ligue 1. They still sit fifth in the French league, though, and have former Bundesliga men Thomas Meunier and Nabil Bentaleb to aid them in their quest for victory.

Difficult customers

Freiburg are unbeaten in Europe, and have lost just once in their last six league games. They've climbed up to seventh in the league, and will look to continue their European adventure with another win against Lille.

2:03

Watch: Freiburg 2-1 Cologne - highlights

Freiburg came from behind to move up to seventh on Matchday 19.

Head-to-head

These teams have never met before in European competition. Freiburg, though, have won four and drawn one of their five meetings with French sides, while Lille have won only two of their 13 encounters with German opposition (D5 L6).

© IMAGO/JOERAN STEINSIEK

Lille - the story so far

Lille’s campaign so far has been something of a rollercoaster ride. Back-to-back victories over Brann and Roma were followed by defeats to PAOK and Red Star Belgrade, before a 4-0 win against Dinamo Zagreb left them in a strong position to confirm at least a knockout phase play-off spot. However, the Ligue 1 side have since lost to Young Boys and Celta Vigo, leaving them in need of a result against Freiburg to secure a play-off berth.

© IMAGO/Mutsu Kawamori

Freiburg - the story so far

Freiburg occupy third place in the league phase standings, having beaten Basel, Utrecht, Nice, Salzburg and Maccabi Tel Aviv and drawn away to Bologna and Viktoria Plzeň. With a three-point cushion over ninth-placed Porto, Julian Schuster's side are on the brink of securing a top-eight finish and an automatic place in the round of 16.

© Daniela Porcelli

Hello and welcome!

Welcome along and thanks for joining us for build-up and live coverage of the UEFA Europa League fixture between Lille and Freiburg.

About the players

8

Maximilian

Eggestein

Sport-Club Freiburg

About the clubs

Freiburg

Europa-Park Stadion