Lille continue their busy start to the season when they host newly-promoted Angers in Ligue 1 on Saturday.

Les Dogues have already played four competitive matches this season due to their involvement in Champions League qualifying, which has gone to plan so far for Bruno Genesio's men.

Match preview

With one foot in the Champions League group stages and three points on the opening weekend of Ligue 1, Lille could not have made a better start to the season.

Ten-man Reims offered little challenge to Lille last weekend, as Genesio and his side recorded a 2-0 victory, and Slavia Prague suffered the same fate in the Champions League playoffs in midweek.

The win over Reims leaves Lille fourth, the same position they finished last season, and ultimately saw them qualify for Europe's premier competition.

Genesio's side could have been forgiven for being a little fatigued ahead of the Reims fixture though, after a dramatic night in Istanbul just days prior, as they edged out Fenerbahce in the third qualifying round.

Being just minutes from progressing, Bafode Diakite's own goal led to extra time, and Aissa Mandi's red card made the task even tougher, but Jonathan David's 118th-minute penalty sent Lille through instead of Jose Mourinho's Fener.

While Lille look set to juggle European commitments, Angers' sole focus will be on Ligue 1 survival, after they made a surprise return to the top flight last season.

After being relegated with a measly 18 points from 38 games in 2022-23, Angers were not among the most fancied sides to come up, but they finished second behind Auxerre to seal automatic promotion.

The horrors of the 22-23 season are not quite a distant memory yet though, and Angers are the favourites to be relegated this season, as a 1-0 defeat at home to Lens was not the start they hoped for.

Winning just 18 points in that campaign was one of the lowest in French football history, but one of Angers' rare wins that season came against Lille, and the last six meetings have resulted in two wins apiece and two draws.

Team News

Genesio made some personnel changes to his Lille side in the win over Reims last week, with the Champions League qualifiers at the forefront of their minds.

A 2-0 win over Slavia in midweek puts them in a healthy position, but the job is far from done, so the likes of David, Thomas Meunier and Hakon Arnar Haraldsson may be left on the bench again to keep them fresh for the return leg.

Benjamin Andre was suspended for the Reims win and should return here, but Edon Zhegrova is still out after a straight red card on the final day of last season.

There were concerning scenes when Angel Gomes was knocked unconscious in the win last weekend, and even though the player is recovering well, concussion protocols will keep him out.

Angers will remain without the trio of Farid El Melali, Jim Allevinah and Justin-Noel Kalumba with all three currently on the treatment table.

Former Brest midfielder Haris Belkebla joined last week after making just one appearance in Saudi Arabia, but he was not signed in time to make his debut against Lens, while his match fitness is still questionable.

Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Tiago Santos, Mandi, Diakite, Alexsandro, Ismaily; Cabella, Mukau, Andre, Sahraoui; Bayo

Angers possible starting lineup:
Fofana; Arcus, Bamba, Hountondji, Lefort, Ekomie; Capelle, Aholou, Belkhdim; Abdelli, Cherif

We say: Lille 2-0 Angers

Despite having one eye on their trip to the Czech capital in midweek, Lille's rotated side should still be strong enough to beat an unfancied Angers side.

While the current squad is unlikely to falter in the same fashion as their predecessors from 2022-23, Angers are likely going to find it tough here, and starting with two defeats does not bode well for the rest of the season.


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