Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Nimes will be aiming to make amends for a heavy 5-0 loss to Strasbourg when they take on Lille in the Ligue 1 round 19. Les Crocodiles have been struggling at the back of late, with the team conceding 15 goals in total in the previous five league fixtures. Nimes are low on confidence ahead of the visit of Lille, and we do not believe that they are capable of grabbing something from the match.
Florian Miguel remains on the sidelines through suspension, while Sarr, Landre, Martinez, Depres, and Valerio are out of contention with injuries. Les Dogues, on the other hand, aim to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Angers, and they will not have a better chance than this to get back on course. Even though both Luiz Araujo and Yusuf Yazici have been tested positive for coronavirus, we are tempted to put our money on the visiting team.
Highlighted Player (Pablo Martinez):
After spending ten years in French lower leagues, Pablo Martinez joined Angers in the summer of 2016. Martinez played only nine games in the French top flight for Angers and at the end of the 2016/2017 season he moved to Strasbourg.
Speaking of his early life, the French footballer, who was born in Martigues on February 21, 1989, is a product of Nimes Olympique football academy and you should know that he played for the likes of RCD Mallorca B, Uzes Pont du Gard, Martigues, Uzes Pont du Gard, Gazelec Ajaccio at senior level.
Pablo Martinez made his full professional debut with Gazelec Ajaccio in a 2-1 win over Valenciennes. His main position is left-back, but he is used as a centre-back as well. Pablo Martinez has a dual citizenship and he is eligible to represent both France and Spain at senior level. His preffered foot is left and his contract with Strasbourg expires on June 30, 2019.
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.