Lille vs Klaksvik prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-12-13 20:00.
Alternating between wins and draws in this UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) group stage (W3, D2), Lille are undefeated leaders of Group A and already assured of progression. Advancing directly to the round of 16 will be secured with a victory in this final group stage game against Klaksvík, but second-placed Slovan Bratislava, who trail by just one point, could capitalise on any misstep.
That looks unlikely considering that Lille have lost just one of their last 28 home matches in all competitions (W22, D5). That in turn has helped the Mastiffs to a strong start to their domestic season (W7, D6, L2), backed by the second-best defence in France’s top-flight (GA: 11), which has also kept 11 clean sheets across their last 17 competitive matches!
That run includes the surprising goalless draw in the reverse H2H against Klaksvík, a team already out of the competition, despite making history as the first Faroese club to secure a victory in a European group stage (W1, D1, L3). Their fate was harshly determined by a tough 2-1 loss at home to Slovan Bratislava in late November, a game in which they had initially opened the scoring in the 17th minute.
KÍ are gearing up for their last competitive match before their domestic league kicks off again in March 2024, but as they’ve only played twice since the end of October, perhaps there’ll be some rust to shake off as they visit the Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Although Magne Hoseth’s men are the clear underdog here, they’ve proved a tough nut to crack, conceding just six times in five UECL outings, only one of which arrived before half-time.
Players to watch: Yusuf Yazıcı will relish a return to familiar surroundings, having netted five of his six goals this term on home soil, including in their previous two UECL home games. Each of Klaksvík's five UECL goals has been scored by a different player, but Árni Frederiksberg, back from suspension, has assisted three of them.
Hot streak: Each of Lille’s previous three UECL home games (qualification included) have seen a goal scored after the 80th minute.