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Ligue 1 | Gameweek 31
Apr 10, 2022 at 2pm UK
Stade Jean Bouin
L

Angers
1 - 1
Lille

Djalo (64' og.)
Bentaleb (45+1'), Thomas (53'), Doumbia (69')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Zhegrova (74')
Yilmaz (45+2'), Fonte (65')

Preview: Angers vs. Lille - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Angers vs. Lille - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Sunday's Ligue 1 clash between Angers and Lille, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Defending champions Lille will aim to break back into the top six of the Ligue 1 table on Sunday, when they travel to Angers.

After a strong run of form, the visitors were left disappointed by a stalemate with Bordeaux last weekend, while their opponents were narrowly beaten by Lyon.


Match preview

With 29 points from their opening 21 league matches, Angers looked set for an impressive finish in Ligue 1 without the threat of relegation, but they went on to quickly drop down the table following a dip in form.

Les Noirs et Blancs suffered seven straight defeats between late January and mid-March, conceding 13 goals and only managing three goals at the other end, quickly dropping within touching distance of the relegation zone as a result.

Gerard Baticle's side were then able to add a crucial victory to stop their rot, as Sofiane Boufal hit the only goal of the game from the penalty spot in a home contest with Brest, before they faced the tricky test of travelling to Lyon.

Angers remained competitive throughout and twice drew the game level through Mathias Pereira Lage and Boufal, but Tete's 80th-minute goal was too much to overcome as they left empty-handed following a 3-2 defeat.

While their strong start to the season has given Baticle's men a major head start in the fight for survival, they do now boast just a five-point lead over the relegation playoff place and will be desperate to increase that cushion to ensure they are not dragged into the bottom three in the final games of the campaign.

Lille, meanwhile, arrive in a strong run of recent form, having now gone unbeaten since mid-February.

Les Dogues had a particularly underwhelming start to their title defence after an unlikely triumph last season, languishing in mid-table for large parts of the campaign, but they have since turned their fortunes around, earning eight wins and 29 points from their last 15 top-fight outings to move into the race for the top four.

That run includes a five-game unbeaten league streak heading into this weekend, although the latest of those will leave Jocelyn Gourvennec's side disappointed, as they were unable to break the deadlock at home to basement side Bordeaux who were reduced to 10 men after 35 minutes.

Having been eliminated from the Champions League round of 16 by Chelsea, Les Dogues will now have their full focus on a high league finish, but Saturday's stalemate gave their hopes a hit, with Lille now sat seventh.

With fifth-place Nice and fourth-placed Strasbourg both four points ahead, Gourvennec's side will look to ensure they return to winning ways to apply pressure at the weekend.

Angers Ligue 1 form:
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • W
  • L

Lille Ligue 1 form:
  • D
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D

Lille form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • D

Team News

Winger Jimmy Cabot should remain Angers' only absentee, while they will welcome key defender Romain Thomas back to action after he served a suspension.

Sofiane Boufal is the key man in attack, and he will continue to lead the line having hit seven goals and provided five assists in Ligue 1 this season.

Stephane Bahoken has tended to be deployed alongside the Moroccan recently, although exciting prospect Mohamed-Ali Cho will be pushing to break into the starting XI.

Key Lille centre-back Sven Botman remains sidelined by an injury, leaving veteran Jose Fonte to command the back line alongside Tiago Djalo.

Rumours have arisen around midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa's future at the club, and he is not expected to play any part at the weekend as a result.

Jonathan David and Renato Sanches should make returns to the starting XI after being reduced to substitute appearances last time out, with David and Jonathan Bamba likely to flank experienced forward Burak Yilmaz, who has somewhat struggled in front of goal this term after helping them win the league title with 16 goals last campaign.

Angers possible starting lineup:
Mandrea; Ebosse, Thomas, Traore; Lage, Bentaleb, Mangani, Doumbia; Fulgini; Boufal, Cho

Lille possible starting lineup:
Jardim; Celik, Fonte, Djalo, Gudmundsson; Andre, Onana; David, Sanches, Bamba; Yilmaz


We say: Angers 1-2 Lille

With their top-four hopes having taken a hit due to the draw with Bordeaux, Lille will be particularly determined to get back to winning ways, and we see them returning home with all three points.

The win over Brest and performance against Lyon do shown signs of encouragement in the Angers camp, but Baticle's team may again fall short against a side full of quality.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data




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Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Auxerre291510453282555
2Angers29155942321050
3Saint-EtienneSt Etienne29146936231348
4Laval2913973529648
5Rodez AFRodez AF29111084740743
6GuingampGuingamp2911993731642
7Paris FCParis FC2911993430442
8Caen29126113937242
9AmiensAmiens29101272627-142
10Grenoble29101093633340
11PauPau29101094242040
12Ajaccio29108112833-538
13Bordeaux29108113237-537
14DunkerqueDunkerque29107122940-1137
15Troyes29811103336-335
16Bastia2997132937-833
17Concarneau2996143040-1033
18Annecy2979133340-730
19Quevilly29513113538-328
20Valenciennes29211161740-2317
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