Lille vs Real Madrid prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-10-01 19:00.
[p]Lille’s 3-0 Ligue 1 victory over Le Havre on Saturday was their first win for more than a month in all competitions (D1, L4), a run that included their 2-0 UEFA Champions League (UCL) defeat to Sporting CP on matchday one. They’ll have had little chance to celebrate however, because the bar rises even higher now as reigning champions Real Madrid arrive in northern France for a first-ever H2H.[/p]
[p]As Les Dogues prepare for the daunting task of taking on the 15-time European champions, they won’t want to be reminded that they’ve failed to win any of their last four home games against Spanish clubs (D3, L1). But it’s not all doom and gloom, as Stade Pierre-Mauroy has become a fortress on the continent of late, with Lille having tasted victory in seven of their last eight European games here (D1).[/p]
[p]That should put Real Madrid on high alert, and manager Carlo Ancelotti knows how dangerous Lille can be given his even record against them as a manager (W2, D1, L2). After opening their UCL campaign with a 3-1 win over Stuttgart, they head to France hoping for a calmer evening after Sunday’s fiery league derby with Atlético Madrid ended in a 1-1 draw following crowd trouble which briefly halted proceedings in the second half.[/p]
[p]While Lille boast an impressive recent home record in Europe, it’s almost matched by Los Blancos’ UCL record on foreign soil since Manchester City beat them in May 2023 (W6, D1), including winning last season’s final against Borussia Dortmund. Yet they’ve only won one of their last four UCL visits to France (D1, L2 – all against PSG), so something seemingly has to give.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Edon Zhegrova has three direct goal contributions across Lille’s last two games (G2, A1), with three of his six goals scored this term having arrived in either the 77th or 78th minute! He’ll probably have to get past Éder MilitĂŁo, who after scoring on Sunday, is also a goal threat – three of his last four for the club have arrived between the 35th and 50th minute.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Real Madrid have scored in normal time after the 80th minute in each of their last four UCL games (W3, D1).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]