Still only 19, Lucas played in all of the first 12 matches in last season’s UEL, only to pick up an ankle injury ahead of the semi-final against Bodo/Glimt. That was it for his season - a debut campaign where his displays earned a clean sweep of our Player of the Season awards, but one where those highs were hit by a huge low – not that you’d have known with the sheer delight on his face as he cheered the team on in Bilbao.
“I really struggled with that injury last season, but it was all about being with the team and supporting them – and we managed to win the Europa League,” he told us pitchside after his UCL debut. “So, to play today… it was an unbelievable feeling, crazy.
“It’s been a dream since I was a young kid to play in the Champions League. To do that in front of our supporters here at home, and a win, it couldn’t be better.
“It was a really tough game. Villarreal did a great job, but at the same time, we were better. They didn’t have a shot on target, so that says a lot about us. A 1-0 win and a clean sheet, that’s an amazing feeling.”
As for the goal – Lucas admitted he quickly reined in his celebration! “I tried to do a celebration, but then I thought, ‘it’s not really my goal, so I just started to jog instead’. Maybe it was a half-celebration!”