Strasbourg vs Lille prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-12-19 20:00.
After a run of eight Ligue 1 games without a win (D4, L4) that saw them flirting with the relegation zone, Strasbourg have turned things around with back-to-back 2-1 wins over Le Havre and Lorient respectively. Recording three successive top-flight victories for the first time since January 2022 would be the perfect end to the year, as it would extend their seven-point gap over those in the bottom-three.
Manager Patrick Vieira might be adopting a more optimistic view of things, since his side can enter the competition for European spots should their winning form continue. The Stade de la Meinau faithful will know a visit from Lille puts that winning run under serious threat though, since their side has failed to beat their upcoming visitors in any of their last 11 Ligue 1 H2Hs (D3, L8).
The odds of a home win look even more unlikely considering Lille’s current form, as they haven’t suffered defeat in any of their last 15 matches in all competitions (W8, D7). In Ligue 1, Lille’s ascension up the table has been stalled somewhat due to consecutive draws against teams at either end of the extreme, firstly playing out a dull 0-0 with basement boys Clermont before a 93rd-minute equaliser saw them rescue a point in a 1-1 draw with league leaders PSG.
Those stalemates marked the Mastiffs’ 14th and 15th draws of the year in Ligue 1, with no side registering more such results in the competition in 2023. Despite proving hard to beat, Lille will be keen to end the year on a winning note and apply further pressure on the sides in the top-three.
Key battle: The number nine’s could have a pivotal role in this match, with Strasbourg’s Kévin Gameiro scoring six career goals in 19 matches against Lille, four of which came before half-time. He’s matched by Lille’s Jonathan David who’s terrorised the hosts much more recently, with his six goals against Strasbourg coming by way of scoring a brace in three of his last four H2Hs.
Hot streak: None of Lille’s last ten Ligue 1 matches have produced more than 2.5 goals.