Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
The standout fixture of the round in the French league kicks off the weekend, with Lille and Olympique Lyonnais both aiming for a top-three finish in the tournament. Despite a spate of injuries to key players, Lille have managed to stay competitive even at the Champions League level, though their defensive issues persist.
Lille
Last week, Lille claimed victories against Atlético Madrid in the UEFA Champions League (3:1), and Lens (2:0) in Ligue 1. However, their defence was less than perfect; in their most recent league game, the opposition generated 1.05 xG and had four shots on target. Defensive lapses seem imminent for the team, especially with significant absentees like Mitchel Becker, Rémy Cabella, Hákon Haraldsson, Ismaily Gonçalves, Tiago Santos, and Samuel Umtiti sidelined through injury.
Olympique Lyonnais
In the current campaign, Lyon embarked on a five-match winning streak across all competitions, which was halted by a defeat to Beşiktaş (0:1) in the UEFA Europa League. Nevertheless, the team remained a potent threat in the attacking third (2.83 xG and 30 shots in 90 minutes). Against AJ Auxerre (2:2), they fielded a reserve line-up that relinquished the lead twice, although Olympique Lyonnais continued to impress in attack. Lyon currently sit second in the league in xG (18.01).
Lille vs Olympique Lyonnais Prediction
Since making managerial changes, Olympique Lyonnais have defeated Lille twice (2:1 and 4:3). It appears Lyon may struggle to avoid defensive mistakes, but their offensive prowess is expected to shine. We're backing the individual total for the visitors.
