Lille 1 Real Madrid 0: 36-game unbeaten run over and a mixed night for returning Camavinga

Defending champions Real Madrid were beaten away to Lille on Wednesday night following a lacklustre performance.

The only goal of the game came via the penalty spot, with Jonathan David scoring following a handball by Eduardo Camavinga.

Endrick, 18, made his first start in the Champions League, on a night where Kylian Mbappe was named on the bench.

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

Madrid’s remarkable unbeaten run comes to an end

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

What’s more, this was Real’s first defeat in the Champions League since the 4-0 humbling at the hands of Manchester City in the semi-final second leg in May 2023.

The 15-time champions looked drab and disconnected against the French side. Errors crept into the usually excellent Dani Carvajal’s game, Jude Bellingham appeared frustrated and not even the introduction of Mbappe, back early from injury, could inspire them.

Madrid won’t be worried just yet, but their next three games in the Champions League are last season’s beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Liverpool. They have already experienced slip-ups at home too, with draws against Real Mallorca and Las Palmas leaving them three points behind Barcelona at the top of the table.

Rudiger had two late, late chances — one cleared off the line, one saved by Chevalier — as Madrid looked to rescue something, as they have so often done in this competition. And Guler also sent a point-blank header straight into the goalkeeper’s hands. This time, however, it wasn’t meant to be.

How did Endrick perform on his rec0rd-breaking first start?

Patience has been the name of the game since Endrick signed for Madrid as a 16-year-old in December 2022. The Brazilian had to wait a year and a half to turn 18 before he could join his new side under FIFA regulations. Now he’s at the Santiago Bernabeu, he’s had to accept a secondary role from the bench with Kylian Mbappe ahead of him in the pecking order.

The Frenchman’s thigh injury last week appeared to give Endrick an opportunity for his first start, but he was restricted to a cameo off the bench against Atletico Madrid.

So it was something of a surprise to see the Brazilian from the beginning here — making him Madrid’s youngest Champions League starter since Raul at 18 years and 73 days old.

The teenager was his usual bustling self, but he wasn’t able to get a grip on the game. There was a fine run with a finish straight at Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier in the 19th minute, but it was no great surprise when he was replaced around the hour mark having only produced one other shot.

There will be more opportunities for Endrick, who has already shown his quality with powerful efforts against Real Valladolid in La Liga and Stuttgart in Madrid’s Champions League opener. But Madrid fans will have to be patient with him too.

Camavinga’s mixed night on return from injury

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

Madrid have long had a succession plan in place with Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, but both have had to bide their time behind those two midfield greats. Tchouameni has struggled at times this season in the absence of Kroos, and this was Camavinga’s first appearance of the campaign after a knee injury he suffered in August, before the UEFA Super Cup win against Atalanta.

This was Madrid’s youngest Champions League XI in five years at 25 years and 247 days old — and, at 26, Federico Valverde was the only player in midfield or attack older than 24. Camavinga injected some much-needed energy alongside Tchouameni and showed some bright flashes in the first half, but his night soured with the penalty he gave away in first-half stoppage time — bringing his arms up from an Edon Zhegrova free kick.

Whether or not it was unnatural was debatable, but it was cruel on a player who otherwise looked to be enjoying his return from injury. A yellow card in the 59th minute and being substituted on 67 minutes summed up a frustrating night for the Frenchman.

What next for Real Madrid?

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

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