Real Madrid’s recent loss to Lille was a tough setback for the team. The match revealed a clear lack of creativity in Real Madrid’s gameplay, and the absence of star player Kylian Mbappe from the start made matters worse.

This defeat highlighted some issues that extended beyond just the team’s performance on the field. Meanwhile, an interesting aspect of the match that has caught attention involves the actions of the ball boys at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

As captured by the cameras Movistar Plus+, these young helpers appeared to play a significant role in the outcome of the game.

During the closing moments, they seemed to be intentionally delaying the game, which was frustrating for Real Madrid players, particularly Dani Carvajal.

The ball boys’ tactics to waste time inadvertently made them a sort of extra player for the French side, helping Lille maintain their slender 1-0 advantage.

Carvajal was annoyed
As the game progressed a particularly tense moment occurred when Carvajal pushed the ball boy, who was reluctant to return the ball quickly.

This incident exemplified the mounting pressure felt by Real Madrid as they sought to equalize. Commentary during the broadcast reflected on Carvajal’s struggle, noting his visible frustration with the ball boys for not efficiently doing their job.

Their delays slowed down the pace of play and disrupted Real Madrid’s attempts to gain momentum and create scoring opportunities.

“Carjaval had a tough time with the ball boys in the final minutes of the match,” the commentator said.

Time-wasting tactics, especially in the closing minutes of a match, are a common strategy employed by teams looking to protect a lead.

However, such tactics can leave the opposing team feeling aggrieved and frustrated. For Real Madrid, this match was not just about the scoreline; it was a reminder of the small but significant factors that can influence a game.

Jhon Duran’s glorious late goal earned Aston Villa a famous 1-0 win over Bayern Munich as Champions League football came to Villa Park.

The in-form striker came off the bench and swiftly spotted Manuel Neuer off his line, lighting up Villa Park on a special European night that marked a repeat of the 1982 European Cup final famously won by the West Midlands club.

Unai Emery’s side held firm throughout as the German giants were kept at bay, although it required a dramatic save by Emiliano Martinez from Harry Kane in the final moments. The victory maintains Villa’s perfect start to the Champions League season.

Villa thought they had a first-half lead when Pau Torres forced the ball in from close range but the celebrations were short-lived because of a clear offside in the build-up, only spotted after a VAR check. At the other end, Michael Olise had a shot tipped over.

Bayern moved the ball quickly from the start, dominating possession and threatening to trouble Villa with their movement out wide but in Ollie Watkins, the home side always had an outlet. Dayot Upamecano, isolated, struggled to deal with the England striker.

Kane, passed fit for the contest, showed some typically impressive vision in setting up others, but had few opportunities of his own until very late as Villa defended stoutly. Instead, it was Duran who was the hero, spotting Neuer off his line as he ran through.

It was the finish of a confident forward, collecting Torres’ pass and taking the chance early. The noise that greeted it will be remembered long in these parts, particularly because of Martinez’s diving saves from Serge Gnabry’s right foot and Kane’s head.

Villa’s status as one of English football’s grand old clubs was secured before the events of 1982, all seven titles predating that European Cup win, but it is no exaggeration to suggest that much of the mythology revolves around that evening in Rotterdam.

The top of the Doug Ellis Stand has the famous commentary lines from the goal that won that final adorning upon it – ‘Shaw, Williams, prepared to adventure down the left, there’s a good ball played in for Tony Morley… Oh, it must be!… And it is!… Peter Withe!’

Those memories come with added poignancy now following the passing of Gary Shaw just weeks ago, the local lad who helped Villa defeat the German champions that night 42 years ago. The legacy of him and his team-mates was felt keenly inside the stadium.

Duran delivers again for Villa
Incredibly, this was the fifth time already this season that Duran has come off the bench to score for Aston Villa. He is yet to make his first Champions League start and has only started three games for Villa in the Premier League but now looks an elite striker.

His rocket of a winner against Everton was wonderful but this was special in its own way – and not because it is already installed as one of the most famous Villa goals of their modern history. It required good movement, decision-making and execution.

Watkins worked tirelessly but Duran poses a slightly different threat, winning headers against Upamecano as well as testing Bayern in behind. His unpredictability makes in an unusual fit for an Emery team but it is working for both of them right now.

Martinez man for occasion
Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper would have made an unlikely player of the match for the first 90 minutes, well protected by some high-quality Villa defending but there was always a sense that a big occasion like this would involve him having a say.

Kane’s header looked to be arrowing beyond him into the corner and one suspects some goalkeepers would have been on their heels, resigned to the equaliser. Martinez anticipated the ball’s direction and dived to intercept, drinking in the adulation.

Chants from the home support of ‘World’s number one’ greeted him as he left the field as he revelled in the moment. Martinez turned 32 last month, all this is coming to him relatively late in his career. But he has established himself among the world’s very best.

“Europe always is something special, but there is Europe in the Conference League, Europa League and Champions League. In the Champions League, you are playing against the best teams in the world.

“Now Aston Villa, we are facing teams like tonight. It was not the most important to win, it was how we could compete, more or less close or far. We competed very well. We needed to compete defensively more than normal.

“I can feel now proud of our work, proud of how we are here, getting better, increasing our level, increasing our demands. Our demand was to face them and compete, with the possibility of a win, a draw or even lose, if we tried to lose like we lost against Arsenal three weeks ago, playing with our style, our personality.

“You can win or lose, it depends on the saves of Martinez, the action of Duran, but I am very proud of everything around Aston Villa.”

Liverpool made it two wins from two in the new Champions League format as goals in either half from Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah secured a routine 2-0 win over Bologna at Anfield.

Mac Allister converted Salah’s cross from close range after 11 minutes to put the hosts ahead, but the visitors had their chances before the interval as Alisson denied Kacper Urbanski while Dan Ndoye struck the base of the post.

But Salah settled any nerves in the second period as he notched for the fifth successive Champions League home game, collecting Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass before cutting inside Juan Miranda to thunder his strike into the top corner (76).

Liverpool manager Arne Slot celebrates at the end of the Champions League match against Bologna at Anfield
It is a measure of how well Arne Slot has settled in that this result means he has become the first Liverpool boss in history to win eight of his first nine matches in charge.

Slot said: “I don’t draw many conclusions from that but it is nice. So, so many incredible managers have worked here, doing so many special things.

“The only thing is I don’t hope the only thing people remember me for in one, two or three years – you never know how long I’ll be here – they only say, ‘that is the manager who only won eight of his nine games’.

“I’m hoping to do more special things than winning eight out of nine games.”

Saturday’s victory at Wolves demonstrated they can win when not at their very best, an important quality amid such a hectic fixture schedule, and this latest triumph was again achieved with minimum fuss ahead of this weekend’s trip to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

The result moves them up to fifth place in the nascent league table with Bologna down in 26th position. The Reds face a trip to RB Leipzig on October 23 in their next European outing.

Bologna will be back in England again in just under three weeks as their next game in this competition is at Villa Park a day earlier.

An early kick-off at Palace on Saturday will provide another tough test, but Liverpool will go into the game top of the table and with another away victory on their minds.

Against Bologna, they had to survive some nervous moments in a hard-fought clash. Thijs Dallinga and Darwin Nunez both had efforts ruled out for offside, and the Italians – in their first ever Champions League campaign – acquitted themselves very well.

Ndoye struck the post moments before Bologna capitalised on an error in his own penalty area from Trent Alexander-Arnold, but Alisson – on his 32nd birthday – saved to deny Urbanski.

Riccardo Orsolini was also denied by the Brazilian on his 50th European appearance for Liverpool before Salah inevitably had his say.

The Egyptian’s sumptuous strike was his 49th Champions League goal, as he cut in onto his left and curled his shot into the top corner to ensure Slot continued his fine start to his tenure.

The Dutchman added: “They worked really hard to keep a clean sheet again today, though we also needed our goalkeeper on a few occasions.

“We scored two very good goals, especially the second one. It is always difficult to play a team takes that much risk and is constantly on top of you. Overall, a good result, but I wouldn’t use the word delighted myself today.”