Seven years ago Rafael Leao was a teenager finding his feet in northern France, a raw forward Lille had taken a chance on. On Wednesday 21 October he walks back into the Decathlon Arena - Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Galatasaray's red and yellow, and next to him will be Victor Osimhen, the striker Lille bought to replace him. Lille vs Galatasaray was already a big night for two clubs without a Champions League point. Now it's a personal one as well.
Leao's one season in Lille
Leao only spent 2018/19 at Lille, but it was enough. AC Milan signed him in August 2019, and he went on to score 80 goals in 291 appearances there and become one of the best-known attackers in Italy.
Galatasaray got him late in the summer, completing the deal at the end of August for a reported 38 million euros or so plus add-ons. He fitted straight into an attack built to win now. Against Barcelona on Tuesday, his cross set up Aleksei Batrakov for the opener at RAMS Park. This will be his first game against his old club.
Osimhen's Lille chapter was short too. He replaced Leao as the focal point, lasted one season, and then Napoli signed him. He started the Super Lig season scoring freely before a groin problem stopped him, came back to lead the line against Barcelona, and started that game alongside Leao. With Batrakov and Yunus Akgun as well, Okan Buruk has more individual quality up front than anything Lille see in Ligue 1.
Lille
GalatasarayIt's an early one: 18:45 in Lille, 17:45 in the UK and 12:45pm ET in the US. The clubs have never met in a competitive game.
Why neither side can afford another loss
The nostalgia is nice. The table matters more. Both teams have lost twice, and both have conceded seven in two games.
Lille's European nights keep going the same way. On Matchday 1 they led Real Betis twice at home, through Ayase Ueda and Alexsandro, and still lost 3-2: Marc Bartra scored twice, Troy Parrott got the winner, and Ethan Mbappe was sent off. At Arsenal on Tuesday they held firm for an hour, had a Ueda goal ruled out for offside, then conceded three in seven minutes and lost 3-0.
At home in the league they look like a different team. Davide Ancelotti replaced Bruno Genesio in June, and in his first season Lille are second in Ligue 1 with four wins, a draw and a defeat from six games. The latest was a 1-0 win over Le Havre on 10 October, from an early Dilane Bakwa goal.
Galatasaray know that feeling. They're four-time reigning Turkish champions after a 26th Super Lig title last season, and they top the table again with 16 points from seven matches. In Europe they've let leads go twice. A Goncalo Inacio own goal put them ahead in Lisbon before Sporting CP won 3-1, and after Batrakov's opener against Barcelona, Joao Cancelo, Fermin Lopez, Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi scored in a 4-1 defeat.
LilleGalatasarayTeam news
Lille have lost right-back Tiago Santos to a complete rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament, which will keep him out for a long time. Hamza Igamane is still in knee rehab and isn't registered for this phase of the competition. Ethan Mbappe served his suspension at Arsenal, so he's available.
Galatasaray's concern is Lucas Torreira, who went off injured late against Barcelona. Both clubs play on Saturday, Lille at home to Brest and Galatasaray away at Genclerbirligi, so we'll know more after the weekend. Line-ups and live data will go up on the UEFA match page.
Will Leao get a warm welcome? Lille fans only saw one season of him, and supporters are usually kinder to players who left young than to ones who forced their way out. Galatasaray won't care much either way. They need a first point, and so do Lille.
Lille vs Galatasaray prediction
Both teams can score, and both look fragile once a game opens up. Lille have the crowd and the better recent form, and Ancelotti's side have competed for long spells in Europe without managing a full 90 minutes. Galatasaray have the stars, and with Leao and Osimhen out to make a point, they'll create chances. I'm going 2-2, a point each with neither side happy, and I wouldn't be surprised if the two old boys have a say in it.
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Movistar Liga de Campeones 3
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CBC Sport AZEFrench viewers will find the Champions League on Canal+. If you'd rather not pay, you can watch Lille vs Galatasaray free on our Champions League live streams page with no account needed. Galatasaray fans can bookmark the Galatasaray live stream page, Lille's league games are on the Ligue 1 streams hub, and Spanish speakers can use Champions League en vivo.
The early kick-off leaves time for the late games. Lens are in Belgium later that night, and our Club Brugge vs Lens preview has that one.
