Lille secured a 2:1 victory over Zulte Waregem in a club friendly on Thursday, calling time on a run of mixed results for the French side. The match ended at 2:1 after ninety minutes, with Lille taking all three points from the encounter. By then, the visitors had already shown glimpses of their attacking intent in previous outings.
The hosts arrived with contrasting recent form, winning two of their last five while losing two and drawing one. Their most notable result was a 2:2 draw with Paris Saint-Germain on August 28th, a performance that suggested they could compete at the highest level. And here's the thing, they'd also beaten Toulouse 1:0 on September 3rd, showing defensive solidity when it mattered.
Zulte Waregem's recent campaign told a different story entirely. They'd suffered heavy defeats to Anderlecht and Charleroi, conceding four goals across those two matches. A 4:0 victory over Waasland-Beveren on August 22nd stood as their brightest moment, but consistency had been elusive. To be fair, they'd also beaten Kortrijk 2:0 on September 6th, proving they could punish weaker opposition.
The result leaves Lille in a position to build momentum before the competitive season begins. Three points from a friendly doesn't guarantee anything, but the pattern of results suggests improvement is underway. They'd lost to Nice 2:1 on September 20th and Real Betis 3:2 on September 8th, so this win against a Belgian side offers something to work with.
For Zulte Waregem, the defeat adds to their recent struggles. Two losses in their last three friendlies, including the 0:1 defeat to Charleroi, paint a concerning picture. By then, they'd shown they could score — four against Waasland-Beveren — but keeping clean sheets had proven difficult.
