Lille vs Clermont prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-02-03 14:00.
After ending 2023 with just one win from their last four games (D2, L1), Lille wasted no time in January with three straight victories prior to a 0-0 draw away at Montpellier last weekend. Although boss Paulo Fonseca will have been disappointed to not maintain their 100% start to the year, it was a hard-earned point on the south coast as the Mastiffs played the second half with only ten men.
They now welcome Clermont to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy this weekend looking to build on a record of 15 goals in their last two games at the venue, including a 12-0 Coupe de France victory over Martinique’s Golden Lion! But in spite of that goal-scoring glut, it is Lille’s solid defence which has been key to their strong season so far. Ahead of this game only second-placed Nice have conceded fewer goals in the league and Fonseca’s side have kept four clean sheets from four games so far this year.
As a result, it could be a long afternoon for Pascal Gastien’s Clermont team who travel north for this fixture with the worst goal-scoring record in the division and without a goal in each of their last four H2Hs against Lille (D2, L2)! However, they kept clean sheets of their own in the last two of those H2H clashes and another shutout would be a huge boost to their chances of Ligue 1 survival.
Ahead of this weekend, the Lancers are in 17th place but only one point from safety and just four points from Montpellier in 12th. Although they have won just one of their last eight league games (D3, L4), that victory came in their last away match and three points in Lille would not only give them their first back-to-back away wins of the season, but could also see them move out of the relegation zone.
Players to watch: Canadian striker Jonathan David has scored in his last four home games for Lille, with first half strikes in three of those. Shamar Nicholson has found the net three times and assisted once in his last three league games, while he has opened the scoring for Clermont with each of his four league goals this season.
Hot stat: Lille have conceded more than one goal in just one of their last 20 matches.