YNWA takes a look back at our only previous meeting with Lille OSC Métropole as we prepare for the first leg of our Europa League tie on Thursday. We also revisit our previous trips to France in Europe's secondary club competition.

Previously against Lille
We lost a friendly 3-1 at the Stade Grimonprez-Jooris in November 1979, with Terry McDermott scoring our goal from the spot.

Facing Auxerre
Jamie Redknapp made his debut at the Stade de l'Abbé-Deschamps in October 1991 as we lost 2-0 to Auxerre in the UEFA Cup Second Round with Bruce Grobbelaar in fine form to keep the score down.

In February 2003, Djimi Traoré played his fiftieth reds game, while Jerzy Dudek was making his fiftieth European club appearance, in our 1-0 victory in the Fourth Round of the UEFA Cup, courtesy of a Sami Hyypiä strike. This was our first competitive win in France over French opposition.

Other UEFA Cup visits
Neil Ruddock played his 152nd and last reds game as we were humbled 3-0 in our UEFA Cup Second Round first leg tie at Racing Club de Strasbourg in October 1997, going out after winning the return 2-0.

Igor Bišcan was sent off in March 2004 after Emile Heskey had given us the lead at the Stade Vélodrome as we lost 2-1 on the night to Olympique de Marseille, with Didier Drogba converting the resulting penalty. We therefore crashed out of the UEFA Cup at the Fourth Round stage 3-2 on aggregate.