Author: Derek Wong

An animated video of Sun Wu Kong, the mythical Monkey King from Chinese folklore, was beamed in the RDCE Stadium minutes before kick-off. It was no doubt a nod to Espanyol’s Chinese owner Chen Yansheng, but perhaps also a hope to get some of the transformative powers of the famous fictional deity.

When Mouctar Diakhaby misplaced a simple pass before clattering Victor Osimhen for his second yellow, it was the break Lille were waiting for. The French side had controlled, probed and surged, but no matter how much possession they had, the elusive goal would not come.