Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Angers
Match Time & Date:
08/04/2023
17:00
Prediction: 0-2
Lille
Stade Raymond-Kopa will host Saturday’s Ligue 1 game between Angers and Lille, the two teams who sit in the opposite halves of the table. Les Scoistes are stuck at the bottom with only 11 points on their pocket with slim survival chances, and it is no wonder the bookies see them as underdogs in this match. All Amine Salama, Miha Blazic, Ilyes Chetti, Ali Kalla, and Ulrick Eneme-Ella are out of contention with injuries, but there are no suspended players in the home team.
Lille, on the other hand, aim to build on back-to-back wins over Toulouse and Lorient, and we predict that they will take advantage of Angers’ shaky defence. Algeria international Adam Ounas is a major doubt after limping off with injury in the last league match, while both Tiago Djalo and Ismaily remain in the recovery room. In the first half of the season Lille defeated Angers thanks to Tiago Djalo’s goal.
Highlighted Player (Jose Fonte):
Born in Penafiel in 1983, Jose Miguel Da Rocha Fonte spent his early career in the lower divisions of the Portugal’s league system, and while he did join giants Benfica in 2006, he never made a single league appearance for the Eagles.
The loan spell with Crystal Palace proved crucial for the towering defender as he later secured a permanent move to Selhurst Park, performing well in three Championship campaigns. Fonte then surprised everyone when he joined League One side Southampton, but that would prove to be the best decision he has ever made, as he helped the Saints return to the Premier League before establishing himself as one of the leading central defenders in the elite division.
Rated for his aerial ability, but also quite capable on the ground, Jose Fonte even caught the eye of England’s top clubs, although a big club move never materialised for him. The late bloomer eventually played himself into the first team plans of Portugal coach Fernando Santos, making his Selecao debut at the age of 30.
Highlighted Team (Lille):
Lille have been playing an important role in French football ever since they were founded in 1944. Les Dogues won their first domestic trophy in the 1945/1946 season.
Lille did well to win their second Ligue 1 title in 1954 and 57 years later they lifted their last domestic title. Les Douges finished the 2010/2011 season in top position in the standings, eight points clear of second-placed Olympique Marseille and it has to be noted that Lille attacker Moussa Sow won the Golden Boot (25 goals).
Lille are one of the two teams that managed to win three consecutive Coupe de France trophies (1946, 1947, 1948), but they have yet to clinch the Coupe de la Ligue title. Les Dogues faced PSG in the 2015/2016 Coupe de la Ligue trophy, but les Parisiens proved to be a big catch for Frederic Antonetti’s team in the title game.
Lille play their home matches at Stade Pierre-Mauroy and the capacity of the stadium is 50.186. The venue was opened in August, 2017 and the construction cost €282 million.
