Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Ligue 1 match.
After returning to the top tier of French football, Saint-Étienne have found themselves at the bottom of the table following three consecutive defeats. Lille's situation is better, but due to personnel issues, they risk dropping points.
Saint-Étienne
Earlier this summer, Saint-Étienne triumphed over Metz in an emotional Ligue 1 playoff (4:3 on aggregate). During the off-season, the team did not make significant reinforcements, resulting in three straight losses without scoring. One could argue that they were unlucky with their fixtures, but they also failed to capitalise on their chances—no goals from 2.23 xG.
Lille
Lille's initial energy was enough to get past Fenerbahçe and Slavia Prague in the Champions League qualifiers. In their last game before the break against Paris Saint-Germain, the team couldn’t contain the favourites despite generating 1.58 xG and scoring only once (1:3). Additionally, Lille have roster issues with injuries to Mitchel Bakker, Hákon Haraldsson, Ismaily Gonçalves Santos, and Akim Zedadka, not to mention other long-term absences.
Saint-Étienne — Lille Prediction
The last time there were four or more goals in matches between Saint-Étienne and Lille was in October 2018 (six games ago). On Friday, we are likely to see a maximum of two goals, but you can even opt for a total under 3 for a decent odds.
