Maxima Goffi starts first Champions League game for Lille

Lille have handed 18-year-old defender Maxima Goffi his first Champions League start for Tuesday night’s away match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The young Frenchman, born in Villeneuve-d’Ascq and developed in northern France, comes in at right-back in place of the injured Tiago Santos, who is out with a serious knee injury. Goffi made his first appearance of the season against Le Havre and has now made four senior appearances for Lille, including two in Ligue 1, one in the Europa League and one in the Coupe de France.

Goffi is a product of the youth academies of AS Hellemmes and Lille. In 2024, he was promoted to Lille’s reserves in the Championnat National 3. On 15 May 2025, he signed his first professional contract with Lille until 2028.

Head coach Davide Ancelotti also selected Ayase Ueda ahead of Olivier Giroud in attack, while Ngal’ayel Mukau starts instead of Gaëtan Perrin. Hakon Haraldsson returns to the starting line-up after coming on as a substitute against Le Havre.

Lille line up with Ozer in goal, Goffi, Ngoy, Alexsandro and Perraud in defence, Andre and Bentaleb in midfield, and Bakwa, Mukau and Haraldsson supporting Ueda.

Arsenal named Bruno Guimaraes in a midfield three alongside Mikel Merino and Declan Rice, who captains the side in Martin Odegaard’s absence.