Lille Vs Lyon
Sunday, 8 March 2020 – 20:00 GMT Kick-Off
French Ligue 1
Pick: Both Teams To Score
Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds displayed were correct at time of writing: 5 March 2020 at 11:50 GMT)
Preview: The final match-up in France’s Ligue 1 this weekend is arguably the standout encounter of the round as fourth meets fifth at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, home of Lille who take on Lyon this coming Sunday.
France Ligue 1 Betting at 22Bet
Table of Contents
Lille Preview – Les Douges to build on five wins from six in Ligue 1?
Losing last month’s pivotal clash with second in the table Marseille has, if nothing else, simplified the task at hand for Lille (4th – W14 D4 L9) knowing there is only a slim chance of them overhauling a nine point deficit on L’OM. Their collective Champions League aspirations now rest on catching Rennes, who are only a point better off in third, but also ensuring the chasing pack are kept at bay.
Lyon are among that chasing pack, with Les Gones six points further back in fifth, and defeat on Sunday would allow a direct rival to move within three points. Fortunately, a combination of encouraging past results – Lille winning three and losing none of the pair’s previous six Ligue 1 meetings (W3 D3) – and a reliable record at their Stade Pierre-Mauroy thus far (W10 D2 L2, GF23 GA9) point towards that not happening.
All this before we even touch upon recent form, which has been near flawless with the exception of that aforementioned loss to Marseille. Last week’s 1-0 win at Nantes made it three on the bounce away from home, which is no mean feat for a team that had one win in ten said matches prior. Overall, it is five wins from the last six. The latest four, meanwhile, all achieved without conceding a goal and thus taking their ‘Win To Nil’ tally for the season into double figures (10).
Lyon Preview – Les Gones out to atone for midweek capitulation?
After a sluggish start to their Ligue 1 campaign, Lyon (5th – W11 D7 L9) have dragged themselves into Champions League contention (top-three placement) under Rudi Garcia. The 56-year-old wasn’t a universally popular appointment – not even close – but there can be no doubt that results, if not always the quality of performance, have improved under his reign. He can expect a hot reception this Sunday, however, upon making his return to the club he spent the best part of five years managing between 2008-2013.
Packed with wonderfully talented individuals, this Lyon team can mesmerize and frustrate in equal measure. Wednesday being a prime example, crumbling as soon as they fell 2-1 behind to PSG despite being more than a match for the best team in the country for more than an hour of their Coupe de France semi-final. Missing out on the final will hurt, but they have to use that as motivation here.
Trailing Lille and Rennes by six and seven points respectively, Lyon are in no position to feel sorry for themselves. A positive response is imperative. Their Ligue 1 form is promising, however, having won back-to-back matches 2-0 against Metz and fierce local rivals St Etienne. They were dominant over the latter last weekend. Another display of that ilk is demanded here, although Les Gones have wobbled on their travels recently, winning just two of the last five (W2 D1 L2).
Don’t miss out on other Betting Tips & Predictions
Click here for more Betting Tips
Lille Vs Lyon Betting Advice
Fourth hosts fifth in Ligue 1 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy this Sunday, with Lille boasting a strong record at home (W10 D2 L2) – only the league’s current two-two of Marseille and PSG have won there thus far – but possibly meeting their match in Lyon, whose away figures (W6 D3 L5) are among the best in the division. In fact, runaway leaders PSG are the only team to have netted more often on their travels this season than Rudi Garcia’s troops (25 in 14 games).
Lille Vs Lyon – Key Facts
- Nine of Lille‘s fourteen Ligue 1 victories this season were by a slender one-goal margin, while ten were achieved without conceding a goal.
- Other than PSG, Lyon‘s 25 goals away from home, scored at a rate of 1.79 per away game, is a figure at least five better than the rest of Ligue 1.
- Lille certainly have the edge if recent meetings are any sort of barometer. Les Douges (W3 D3) losing none of the past six Ligue 1 contests with Lyon and were 1-0 winners when these teams met earlier in the season.
Their earlier meeting, in Lyon, was a cagey affair eventually won 1-0 by Lille. That scoreline halting a sequence of five successive head-to-head encounters involving Over 2.5 Goals and Both Team To Score. Lille have specialised in winning matches on the back of clean sheets but will do well to limit such a free-scoring opponent as Lyon, whose last nine away matches in Ligue 1 delivered both teams scoring. So there is certainly value – not least some logic – in banking on something similar on Sunday.
Best Betting Odds for Lille Vs Lyon
Lille – 6/5 (Betway)
Draw – 23/10 (Betfair)
Lyon – 13/5 (BetVictor)
