Borussia Dortmund and Lille battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday. The match, played at Signal Iduna Park in Germany, saw both teams find the net in a game that sets up an intense second leg in France next week.
Dortmund started strong, taking the lead in the 22nd minute through Karim Adeyemi. The German forward struck a powerful low shot from the edge of the box after a well-placed pass from Emre Can. His goal marked his fifth in the competition this season, an impressive feat considering he missed four group-stage matches due to injury.
The home side looked in control for most of the game, but Lille found their rhythm in the second half. In the 68th minute, Jonathan David capitalized on a lapse in Dortmund’s defense and threaded a precise ball to Hakon Haraldsson. The Danish midfielder kept his composure and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Gregor Kobel to bring Lille level.
Dortmund thought they had regained the lead just before halftime when Pascal Gross found the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside. Despite Dortmund’s early dominance, Lille grew into the game as the match progressed.
This result leaves Dortmund needing a victory in the second leg to keep their Champions League hopes alive. It has been a tough season for the German club, who are currently struggling in 10th place in the Bundesliga. Their path to the knockout stages was also challenging, as they had to defeat Sporting Lisbon in a play-off to secure their place in the round of 16.
Since appointing Niko Kovac as head coach in January, Dortmund has shown signs of improvement. Under Kovac, they had managed four clean sheets in six matches before this game and won consecutive Bundesliga games for the first time this season.
For Lille, this draw gives them confidence as they chase their first-ever appearance in the Champions League quarter-finals. Their impressive group-stage campaign, which included wins against both Madrid clubs and Feyenoord, has fueled their belief that they can go further in the competition.
