Cheryshev scores first Champions League goal

A 63rd minute strike against LOSC Lille opened up the scoring at the Pierre Mauroy, and also opened Denis Cheryshev’s goal account in the Champions League. The Russian latched onto a perfect setup from Kevin Gameiro to find the net for the first time in Europe’s top club competition, with a strike that was eventually cancelled out by a late Lille equaliser.

Cheryshev had played in eight games in the Champions League before this Wednesday’s trip to France -five of which with Valencia CF- but was still to break his duck in the competition.

Speaking after the game, he told Spanish television channel Movistar Liga de Campeones that “After the way the game went, the point doesn’t feel like enough for us. They equalised with just a minute to go, and we leave here hurt by the result, because we could have won.”

Despite the draw, the VCF number 11 said that “Reaching the knockout stages continues to be our objective. We want to fight for the highest honours and we can’t aim for anything that isn’t that.”

“I’m sure that the game at home will be easier, playing in front of our home fans. We always go for the victory in every game. Today it wasn’t to be, we have to improve and that’s what we are going to do.”