Frank Christian
The time has come: Real Madrid has suffered a defeat.
After nearly nine months, this sentence echoed through Lille on the second matchday of the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.
The northern French team, Lille, known for breaking Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 dominance by winning the title in 2020/21, secured a 1-0 victory against Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. Madrid had to rely on some substitute players due to injuries.
Jonathan David scored a penalty just before halftime, leading Lille to triumph over an undermanned Real Madrid, who were missing star goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and had only Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo available to sub in. Mbappe made his presence known in the 56th minute but did not record a shot on goal.
0 – @KMbappe has failed to attempt shots in a single game for the first time at @realmadriden (10 appearances with Los Blancos in all competitions). Slip. pic.twitter.com/x4ful3m2ES
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) October 2, 2024
Real Madrid’s Unbeaten Streak Concludes Against Lille
Real Madrid’s long unbeaten run has been nothing short of impressive. It had been over a year since they had last encountered a defeat, totaling 53 consecutive matches across La Liga and the Champions League, their primary competitions.
This streak helped them secure both titles last season. Their current campaign in 2024/25 has been challenging, with a record of seven wins, three draws, and one loss in official matches.
𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝟏-𝟎 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐝
A fantastic victory for Lille against the reigning champions.
Bruno Génésio becomes only the third manager to defeat Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, and José Mourinho in European competition, following Jürgen Klopp and Diego Simeone.#LILRMA #UCL pic.twitter.com/6yLtG2tm4L
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) October 2, 2024
Real Madrid has struggled particularly in away matches. They have drawn against Mallorca, Las Palmas, and Atletico Madrid, and now faced a loss in Lille. Their only away win came against Real Sociedad, where they emerged victorious with a score of 2-0.
This situation raises concerns, especially with a crucial upcoming match against Liverpool at Anfield at the end of November during the Champions League. The unexpected defeat in France diminishes their leeway for ensuring a top-eight finish in this league phase to qualify directly for the Round of 16.
Who Was the Last Team to Defeat Real Madrid?
Prior to the loss against Lille, Real Madrid’s last defeat dates back to January 18, 2024, when Atletico Madrid triumphed 4-2 in the Copa del Rey after extra time.
The last regular 90-minute loss occurred on September 24, 2023, also against Atletico Madrid, who won with a score of 3-1 in a league fixture.
