ST ETIENNE v LILLE – Pick: 1 – 22 March 2015

St Etienne to overcome Lille challenge

International Football Tips

Football – France – Ligue 1

Sunday 22nd March 2015 – Kickoff: 1400hrs

Hosts Saint-Etienne will be looking to post a third successive Ligue 1 win when they entertain 8th placed Lille on Sunday afternoon.

Previous wins over Lorient and Metz hardly raised any eyebrows, but these are the sort of matches they need to claim the maximum points in, in order to maintain their bid for european football next season. Saint Etienne’s home form has also been solid throughout the season and this is reflected by just one defeat from their last nine.

Their home record stands at  7-5-2  21/10 and they’ve failed to score on just three occasions while potential anytime goalscorers include former Premier league players Gradel and van Wolfswinkel.

 

Visitors Lille have won their last three Ligue 1 matches on the trot with wins over Lyon, Guingamp and Rennes although two of these victories were recorded on home turf. Lille are currently placed eighth but they must be wondering at what could have been had their away form been better.

A road record of  3-3-8  9/18 just doesn’t cut it for a side harbouring european football ambitions for next season, as inconsistent results have continued to peg them back throughout most of their away matches this term.

 

Lille have struggled away from home against the top sides in Ligue 1 and this trend could well continue here this afternoon against a Saint Etienne side with a strong home record – could perhaps be a 2-1 win for the hosts here.

Pick: Saint Etienne straight win @ 2.05 William Hill