Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Nice and Lille square off against each other at Allianz Riviera in what is expected to be one of the most exciting games of Saturday’s program. Les Aiglons are eyeing a spot in European competitions, and they are likely to adopt an attack-minded approach in the penultimate game of the season. Thuram-Ulien is back from suspension, while both Claude Maurice and Atal are out of contention with injuries.
Les Dogues, on the other hand, aim to make amends for a heart-breaking 2-1 loss to Monaco. Considering that Lille have little to play for in the season finale, we believe that there is a big value in betting on the home side. Both Burak Yilmaz and Renato Sanches are back from suspensions, but Benjamin Andre is banned for Saturday’s clash. Fellow midfielder Xeka remains on the sidelines with injury for the visiting side.
Highlighted Player (Kasper Dolberg):
Standing at 6ft 2-inches, the tall forward kicked-off his youth career with GFG Voel in Denmark in 2005 and spent five years with them before joining hometown club Silkeborg IF at the age of 13. At Silkeborg, Dolberg quickly rose through the ranks and made his professional debut on the 17th of May, 2015, as a 66th substitute against Brondby in the Danish Superliga.
At the start of the 16/17 season, Dolberg signed for Eredivisie giants AFC Ajax on a three-year deal after impressing the clubs' renowned scouting network. He scored his first professional goal on the 26th of July, 2016, in Ajax's 1-1 draw with PAOK Thessaloniki in a UEFA Champions League Qualifier match. In what was a prolific spell at de Godenzonen, Dolberg made 119 appearances and scored 45 goals for the club. Born on the 6th of October, 1997, the 22-year-old is currently on a five-year contract with French club Nice that in August 2019.
Dolberg is additionally a former Denmark youth International, having represented his country at every youth level. For the senior team, the striker made his debut on the 11th of November, 2016, and has earned 13 caps so far.
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.