Lille vs Lorient prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-04-01 11:00.
Lille enter the Ligue 1 home stretch breathing down the necks of the teams currently occupying the European places, with just a point separating the Mastiffs and Rennes in fifth ahead of this round. Paulo Fonseca’s men strung together a four-match unbeaten streak before the international break (W2, D2), bookended by a 2-0 win over Toulouse which saw them score twice after the 84th minute.
The Stade Pierre-Mauroy is proving a fortress this season, with Lille unbeaten on their own patch since August in all competitions (W9, D4), with 11 matches in that sequence coming in the league (W7, D4). Extending that run into a 12th Ligue 1 home match without defeat would be their best such streak since 2010/11, and they’ll be confident of doing that against Lorient, as they’ve lost just two of their last 14 H2Hs on their own turf (W9, D3).
Lorient are chasing the same goal and have a second ever European qualification in their sights, although a six-point gap to the top-five presents a big obstacle. Régis Le Bris’ men avoided defeat in each of their last three matches before the break (W1, D2), although drama ensued over the season stoppage, as midfielder and France U21 star Enzo Le Fée announced his intention to leave the club in the summer.
Right in the battle for the Champions League places before the World Cup break, Lorient can perhaps look to their poor five-game league form on the road (D2, L3) as the reason for their recent downfall. Further misery could await here too, as they’ve lost six of their last seven league trips to Lille (W1), conceding 18 goals across those matches!
Players to watch: Lille’s Jonathan David scored in this season’s reverse fixture (L 1-2) and currently sits joint-top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts with 19 goals, while Lorient winger Romain Faivre has lost just one of his six H2H meetings with Lille (W3, D2), only winning more against two other sides.
Hot stat: Lille have scored the opening goal in 11 of their 14 Ligue 1 home games this season.