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It was a famous midweek at Stade Pierre Mauroy in midweek in the UEFA Champions League as they defeated Real Madrid by a goal to nil. They now face a Toulouse side that have started the season very slowly in Ligue 1.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 5th October, 2024 - UK – 6:00pm / US ET – 1:00pm / US PT – 10:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports
LILLE PREVIEW: BIG WIN FOR LILLE
Under the management of former Stade Rennais and Olympique Lyonnais boss Bruno Genesio, Lille started the season really well before drifting within the last month or so but a Jonathan David penalty in first-half stoppage-time gave the French side a slender victory against defending and 15-time European champions Real Madrid in midweek.
They had started the season with back-to-back victories as well as securing qualification to the UEFA Champions League with a playoff round win against Slavia Prague. That was followed by a five-match winless run of form across all competitions but they returned to winning ways with a 3-0 win against Le Havre at Stade Oceane last weekend.
TOULOUSE PREVIEW: TOULOUSE NEED A WIN
Toulouse gained promotion back to the top-flight in 2022 and then accidentally won the 2022/23 Coupe de France which meant qualification for the UEFA Europa League last season but that was way ahead of schedule and their small-ish squad had to deal with European football which hampered their domestic results.
The visitors, still coached by the now under pressure Carlos Martinez Novell, suffered a 2-1 defeat to Olympique Lyonnais at Stadium de Toulouse in midweek in a game in which they took the lead after 14 minutes before then conceding a 95th minute Malick Fofana winner to plummet them further down the Ligue 1 table.
LILLE TEAM NEWS: PLENTY OF ISSUES
The home team have a few key absentees for this weekend with the most notable injuries being to defender Ismaily and Iceland international Hakon Haraldsson.
It should be worth noting every week that Nabil Bentaleb also remains unavailable after the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest over the summer.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Santos, Diakite, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; And. Gomes, Andre; Zhegrova, Ang. Gomes, Sahraoui; David
UNAVAILABLE: Umtiti (Injured), Mukau (Injured), Ismaily (Injured), Bentaleb (Illness), Mbappe (Injured), Haraldsson (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
TOULOUSE TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT AND AVAILABLE
Carlos Martinez Novell is searching for a winning formula once again this weekend and is likely to make changes as they travel to the north of France for this one.
The visitors do have the benefit of no injury issues or suspension concerns for this weekend, though, so do have the option of naming an unchanged eleven.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Restes; Sidibe, Nicolaisen, McKenzie; Kamanzi, Cristian Casseres Jr, Sierro, Donnum; Babicka, Gboho; Magri
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
LILLE VS TOULOUSE PREDICTION
Lille have been good to watch ever since the appointment of Paulo Fonseca and Bruno Genesio, whilst not as convincing, has still managed to cultivate a similar style of football. They welcome a Toulouse side to the north that will be looking to once again be quite reactive with their three-at-the-back system and, given that desire, as well as Lille’s slightly unconvincing nature and potential fatigue, means it could well be a low-scoring encounter.
LILLE VS TOULOUSE TIP: UNDER 3.5 GOALS