Lille 1 Real Madrid 0: 36 games unbeaten and a mixed evening for returning Camavinga

Defending champions Real Madrid were beaten in Lille on Wednesday evening after a poor performance.

The only goal of the game came from a penalty when Jonathan David scored after a handball from Eduardo Camavinga.

The 18-year-old Endrick made his first Champions League appearance on a night when Kylian Mbappe was on the bench.

Here, Tomás Hill López-Menchero analyzes the key talking points from Madrid’s defeat in France.

Madrid’s remarkable unbeaten streak comes to an end

It had been 36 games and almost nine months since Real had last lost in competition – a 4-2 extra-time loss to Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey round of 16 in January – but Lille managed to beat Carlo’s side Ancelotti somehow did the unthinkable.

Furthermore, this was Real’s first defeat in the Champions League since the 4-0 defeat against Manchester City in the semi-final second leg in May 2023.

The 15-time champion appeared monotonous and unfocused against the French team. Errors crept into Dani Carvajal’s normally excellent game, Jude Bellingham looked frustrated and not even the introduction of Mbappe, who had returned early from a thigh injury, could inspire them.

Ancelotti tries to make his voice heard on the touchline (FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP via Getty Images)

Madrid won’t be worried yet, but their next three Champions League games are against last season’s defeated finalists Borussia Dortmund, then AC Milan and Liverpool. They have already suffered slips, with away draws against Real Mallorca and Las Palmas now leaving them three points behind Barcelona at the top of the La Liga table.

Rudiger had two late, late chances – one cleared off the line, one saved by Lucas Chevalier – as Madrid tried to salvage something, as they have done so often in this competition. And Arda Güler also sent a header from close range directly into the goalkeeper’s hands. However, this time it wasn’t to be that way.

How did Endrick perform in his record-breaking first start?

Patience has been key since Endrick moved from Palmeiras to Madrid in December 2022 as a 16-year-old. The Brazilian had to wait a year and a half until he turned 18 before he could join his new team in accordance with FIFA regulations. Now that he is at the Santiago Bernabeu, he has to take on a secondary role on the bench, with Mbappé ahead of him in the pecking order.

The Frenchman’s hamstring injury last week appeared to give Endrick a chance of making his first appearance, but he was limited to just one appearance as a substitute in Sunday’s 1-1 Madrid derby draw at Atlético.

Endrick on the ball against Lille (FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP via Getty Images)

So it was a bit of a surprise to see the Brazilian here from the start – at 18 years and 73 days, he is Madrid’s youngest Champions League starter since Raúl.

The teenager was busy as usual, but couldn’t get the game under control. There was a great run in the 19th minute with a direct finish against Lille goalkeeper Chevalier, but it wasn’t much of a surprise when he was substituted around the hour mark after only firing one more shot.

There will be more opportunities for Endrick, who has already proven his quality with strong performances against Real Valladolid in La Liga and against Stuttgart in the opening game of the Real Champions League. But Madrid fans also have to be patient with him.

Camavinga’s mixed evening after returning from injury

This was once the kind of night that Luka Modric and Toni Kroos would have dominated as Real Madrid regulars – but times have changed. Modric is now more likely to be used on the bench at 39 (which he was last night), while Kroos’ decision to retire this summer at 34 surprised everyone.

Madrid have long had a succession plan with Aurelien Tchouameni and Camavinga, but both have had to come to terms with the two midfield greats. Tchouameni has struggled at times in Kroos’ absence this season and this was Camavinga’s first appearance of the season after suffering a knee injury before the UEFA Super Cup win against Atalanta in August.

At 25 years and 247 days, this was Madrid’s youngest team in the Champions League in five years – and at 26, Federico Valverde was the only midfielder or attacker older than 24. Camavinga brought much-needed energy alongside Tchouameni and produced some flashes of brilliance in the first half, but his evening was marred by the penalty he gave away in first-half stoppage time – when he put his arms up after an Edon Zhegrova free-kick .

Camavinga misses a penalty (SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)

Whether it was unnatural or not is debatable, but it was cruel for a player who otherwise seemed to be enjoying his return from injury. A yellow card in the 59th minute and substitution in the 67th minute made for a frustrating evening for the Frenchman.

What did Ancelotti say afterwards?

In his post-match press conference, Ancelotti said: “We had problems switching, we tried to be aggressive and that cost us. “We have to keep a cool head but we have to improve. There is a dynamic that needs to be improved. It’s not enough to talk about it. This match is a step backwards.

“The last defeat, when we lost the derby, was a fantastic wake-up call. Hopefully this can be a fantastic wake-up call.”

What’s next for Real Madrid?

Saturday, October 5th: Villarreal (home), La Liga, 8pm UK, 3pm ET

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(Top photo: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)