Giroud returns to Arsenal as Atlético and United share sombre Madrid night
Arsenal hosted Lille at the Emirates Stadium while Manchester United travelled to Atlético Madrid on a Champions League night shaped by a return and a remembrance.
Both games kicked off at 8pm UK time on 13 October 2026. They were league-phase matches in the 2026/27 Champions League, the long opening stage where every team plays eight different opponents to reach the knockouts.
Arsenal against Lille was a first. The clubs had never met before, with Arsenal playing their 242nd European Cup game and Lille their 72nd, according to The Guardian. German referee Felix Zwayer took charge in north London.
Arsenal made five changes for the tie. David Raya started in goal behind Jurrien Timber, Ezri Konsa, Gabriel and Myles Lewis-Skelly, with Bruno Guimaraes, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino in midfield and Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres in attack.
Two players were missing. Piero Hincapie and Martin Zubimendi were out after injuries in a post-match training session following the win over Leeds, The Guardian reported. The bench included Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz alongside 18-year-olds Malik Hashi and Ceadach O'Neill.
Lille arrived second in Ligue 1 but with a poor recent record in this company. They had lost their last seven Champions League games and 10 of their last 12 against English sides. Berke Ozer started in goal, with Goffi, Ngoy, Alexsandro and Perraud in defence, Mukau, Bentaleb and Andre in midfield, and Bakwa, Ueda and Haraldsson in attack.
What makes this stand out is Olivier Giroud. The striker turned 40 a fortnight earlier and returned to Arsenal for the first time since leaving for Chelsea in 2020. He spent six years at Arsenal, playing 180 games and scoring 73 goals, and called the return "a blessing". He started on the Lille bench.
In Madrid, the mood was sombre. A moment of silence was held before kick-off at the Metropolitano Stadium, The Guardian reported. Atlético captain Koke did not play after the death of his mother. His brother Borja Resurrección is an assistant coach with Atlético's under-19s. The home players wore black armbands and the club flag outside the stadium flew at half-mast.
On the pitch, Atlético arrived in strong domestic form. Diego Simeone's side had won their last four La Liga matches, including the Madrid derby, but had lost their previous European tie at Anfield. Jan Oblak started in goal, with Llorente, Romero, Hancko and Grimaldo in defence, Simeone, Barrios, Cardoso and Alex Baena in midfield, and Julian Alvarez and Lee in attack.
Manchester United were led by Michael Carrick. Ahead of the trip, Carrick backed his players to emerge from a rough spell, according to Reuters. Senne Lammens started in goal behind Diogo Dalot, Lisandro Martinez, Ayden Heaven and Leny Yoro, with Santos, Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans in midfield and Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford and Bryan Mbeumo in attack. Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Amad Diallo and Matheus Cunha were among the substitutes.
For fans, this was football holding two feelings at once. A favourite coming home in London. A club mourning together in Madrid. Ninety minutes can do that.
