Lille stadium nearing completion

Lille have given fans a sneak-peak at their new 50,000-seat stadium, with the venue scheduled for completion in July.

The reigning French champions suffered a 2-1 loss to Lyon on Saturday to see them slip 11 points behind Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain, all but ending their hopes of retaining the title.

But in a good sign for the future of the club, the new Grand Stade Lille Metropole – which has cost around 300 million Euros to build – is nearing completion.

The multi-purpose stadium is based in Villeneuve d’Ascq near Lille.

In 2003, it was announced by Lille that the site of the Stade Grimonprez Jooris, the club’s home from 1974 until 2004, would be used for the new stadium.

Lille then moved into the Stade Lille-Metropole in Villeneuve d’Ascq.

Due to the Stade Lille-Metropole not meeting the requirements to host UEFA Champions League matches, Lille began hosting home European matches at the Stade Felix Bollaert in Lens and Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Due to several administrative and politically-driven delays, the construction of the new facility was put in limbo and eventually called off in 2005.

The Urban Community of Lille later agreed to fund the destruction of the Stade Grimonprez Jooris, which officially began on March 22 2010.

The stadium is currently listed as a site for matches to be played at Euro 2016 and is expected to be completed this July.