Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
This is one of the two marquee clashes of the upcoming round, alongside Lyon vs Paris Saint-Germain. The two sides are locked in a battle for European qualification, sitting fourth and fifth in the table, with Lille trailing Monaco by just two points. A home victory could see them overtake their rivals.
Lille
Lille secured an impressive away win over Stade Rennais (2:0) in the previous round. That scoreline could have been even more emphatic, as Chuba Akpom had a stunning goal ruled out and also missed a penalty. Overall, Lille created plenty of chances (3.18 xG), reinforcing their attacking prowess. That match was just the third in their last nine to finish under 2.5 goals. Furthermore, both teams have found the net in eight of their previous nine fixtures.
AS Monaco
Monaco have been involved in high-scoring thrillers recently. First, they dismantled Nantes (7:1), capitalising on an early red card for their opponents in just the eighth minute at 0:1. Then, in midweek, they played out a dramatic draw with Benfica (3:3), ultimately failing to reach the Champions League last 16. In their last nine matches, the over 2.5 goals bet has landed seven times.
Lille vs AS Monaco Prediction
Given both teams’ recent attacking displays, this match is expected to deliver goals despite their historically cagey head-to-head encounters. Both sides should find the net, and the game is likely to exceed two goals. Rather than picking a winner, the safest option is to back over 2.5 goals.
