LOSC Lille 2026/27 Away Jersey

A suitcase, a road, a borrowed stadium.

LOSC took decades to return to Europe. When they finally did, they first had to play on others' turf, even when hosting. Few French clubs have a continental history so tied to the idea of leaving.

The club that hosted away from home

2001-2002 season. Grimonprez-Jooris was not approved for the final stages of the competition: Lille had to host their European opponents at the Stade Bollaert, in Lens. A Lille team playing at home at their neighbor's ground, thirty kilometers from their own city. On September 25, 2001, Olympiakos was beaten 3-1 there; on October 31, Manchester United was held to a 1-1 draw.

The real learning took place away from home. On September 18, 2001, a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford. On October 23, a 1-1 draw at the Riazor against Deportivo La Coruña. On February 28, 2002, a 0-0 draw in Dortmund. A team discovering Europe by first learning not to lose.

Twenty years later, the Dogues were finally reaping the rewards. On November 2, 2021, a 2-1 victory in Seville, with a penalty from Jonathan David and a goal from Jonathan Ikoné. On December 8, 2021, a 3-1 victory in Wolfsburg, with Burak Yılmaz, Jonathan David, and Angel Gomes. LOSC finished first in their Champions League group for the first time in their history, and they did it on two away trips.

FIRST IN A EUROPEAN GROUP, AND IT ALL CAME DOWN TO THE AWAY GAMES.

A border city, fifteen minutes from Belgium, which has always looked toward the north and east before looking toward Paris.