Lille vs Angers prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-08-23 17:00.
[p]Lille continued their impressive start to the season by defeating Slavia Prague 2-0 in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Play-off round tie, extending their competitive unbeaten run stretching back to last term to six matches (W4, D2). Now the Mastiffs have the opportunity to build on their Ligue 1 opening round 2-0 triumph at Reims as they prepare to face newly promoted Angers, a side against whom they have a mixed recent record. [/p]
[p]The last six H2Hs have seen both teams win two of the meetings each (D2), so picking a victor here is a tough call. Lille should feel confident however of taking the three points and ultimately replicating or improving on last season’s impressive fourth-placed finish, having added experience to their ranks this summer with the signings of Thomas Meunier and Aïssa Mandi, as well as keeping Jonathan David and acquiring Ethan Mbappé, with David and Mbappé combining at Reims for their second goal.[/p]
[p]Angers’ first game back in the top flight was a little disappointing as they lost 1-0 at home to Lens, and having failed to significantly strengthen so far in the transfer window, it could be another long year for the Black and Whites, who were relegated to Ligue 2 at the end of 2022/23 after suffering 28 league defeats – the joint-most in a single Ligue 1 season.[/p]
[p]Manager Alexandre Dujeux ought to be full of optimism, having earned a respectable eight of Angers’ 18 points during that pitiful campaign when he was appointed with 12 matches to go. The former defender could also remind his players that one of his two wins in charge during that period was against Lille (1-0), while three of the starting XI from the Pays de la Loire outfit’s last victory at Stade Pierre-Mauroy back in January 2021 are still in the squad. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Bafodé Diakité made it 1-0 to Lille at Reims on matchday 1, but in his five scoring appearances in 2023/24, the defender was on the winning side just once (D2, L2). Angers captain and club legend Pierrick Capelle will be looking to emulate the impact that he had in this fixture eight seasons ago, when he opened the scoring in a 2-1 victory. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Angers didn’t receive a first-half booking in any of their last five games. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Alex Bowmer[/i][/p]