Lille claim 1-1 draw at Dortmund in Champions League first leg

The Germans, last year's finalists, take their foot of the gas after the break and concede a deserved equaliser

Champions League - Round of 16 - First Leg - Borussia Dortmund v Lille - Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany - Mar 4, 2025 Lille's Hakon Arnar Haraldsson scores their first goal REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen

Lille scored with their first shot on target in the 68th minute through Hakon Haraldsson to earn a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund after Karim Adeyemi gave the hosts a halftime lead in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

The Germans, last year's finalists, were frustrated with the result after failing to extend their advantage in the opening period despite having several chances.

They took their foot off the gas after the break and conceded a deserved equaliser from the French side who waited patiently for their chance.

"We played a good game today, especially in the second half," said Lille coach Bruno Genesio. "The 1-1 draw has put us in a very good position for the second leg."

"But we will have to deliver a very big game at home if we want to reach the quarter-finals."

Dortmund needed some time to get into the game before Adeyemi fired them into a 22nd-minute lead with an unstoppable low drive that went in off the post.

Nico Schlotterbeck came close to a second goal in the 38th but his powerful shot narrowly missed the target. Pascal Gross did put the ball in the net from close range on the stroke of halftime but his effort was offside.

The Germans, who have struggled in the Bundesliga this season and are in 10th place and at risk of missing out on next season's Champions League, eased off after the break.

Lille, who failed to break through a solid Dortmund backline for more than an hour, finally succeeded with a quick passing move as an off-balance Haraldsson beat goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

Haraldsson is only the second Icelandic player to score in the Champions League knockout rounds.

"We saw two different halves. We had a good first half, deserved the goal, had chances to score again," said Dortmund coach Niko Kovac. "The second half we had no control, we were far too passive, brought ourselves into trouble.

"We were only reacting and from Lille's only chance we conceded an equaliser. We now expect a big fight in Lille but we have the expectation to advance."

Despite some late pressure, Dortmund failed to carve out any clear chances and then had midfielder Daniel Svensson taken off after he turned his left knee when Lille's Andre Gomes stepped on his foot from behind.

The return leg in France is on Mar 12 and the winner will play either Benfica or Barcelona.