Angers vs Lyon prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-02-24 16:00.
After suffering their 18th loss from 24 Ligue 1 rounds (W2, D4) against fellow relegation contenders Strasbourg last weekend (2-1), Angers have one foot already in Ligue 2, with only CA Paris having lost more games at this stage of a season and that was back in 1933/34 (20). Goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni remains positive, however, saying “what we showed in the second half (against Strasbourg) was us", when his team managed an impressive ball possession of 71% after the break!
Despite their current eight-game winless run at home in the top-flight (D1, L7), Angers have failed to score only once in the process, suggesting that their biggest concern lies at the back. The suspension of Slovenian international defender Miha Blažič should therefore be seen as a significant handicap, although a 3-0 win in the corresponding Ligue 1 fixture last season does hint that another upset could be possible.
With an eight-point gap to the top five at the end of last round, visitors Lyon look set for a second consecutive season without competing on the European stage and their longest such run since 1995/96! After their frustrating 2-1 defeat at struggling Auxerre last weekend, in which they gave up a 1-0 half-time lead, the Gones will now look to avoid back-to-back Ligue 1 losses for the first time since early October.
Coach Laurent Blanc, who viewed the game from home due to illness, lamented on Sunday that his team was “a bit limited”, and his return for this match will be a real asset. The visitors remain strong favourites going into this game and have H2H history on their side after winning seven of the last eight H2Hs (L1), including a 5-0 triumph in the reverse fixture back in September.
Players to watch: Angers could rely on young striker Abdallah Sima for a good start as he has opened the scoring within 15 minutes in three of their previous five home outings. Lyon will hope Alexandre Lacazette can find the net, given he has led his team to a 2+ goal margin victory in his last four goalscoring away matches.
Hot streak: None of the previous eight H2Hs have seen the away side on the day score before half-time.