Lille vs Nantes Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Lille begin the year sitting tucked inside the top four with the impressive coaching of Bruno Genesio as the northerners now prepare to take on a struggling Nantes side.
Kick-off date/time: Saturday 4th January, 2025: 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: Pushing for more
Over the summer, Lille lost manager Paulo Fonseca to AC Milan and the appointment of former Olympique Lyonnais and Stade Rennais boss Bruno Genesio was met with some scepticism but he has got his northerners performing well across all competitions.
Lille went into the French winter break on the back of a slender 1-0 defeat of Rouen in the Round of 64 of the Coupe de France a few weeks ago. That means they are now unbeaten in their last 17 matches across all competitions.
Nantes Preview: In a fight
Nantes required three permanent managers to eventually stave off relegation last season but they have stuck by Antoine Kombouare over the winter break, despite the fact the Canaries are hovering just above the bottom three and the danger zone.
The visitors come into this one on the back of hammering Drancy JA by four goals to nil in the cup a few weeks ago, a week after they had been hammered 4-1 by Stade Brest and they have won just one of their last 12 matches in Ligue 1.
Lille Team News: Angel Gomes close
England international Angel Gomes has been out injured for over a month but he is close to returning to full fitness this weekend. Mitchel Bakker is unavailable due to suspension for this one, whilst Tiago Santos also remains sidelined due to injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Mandi, Diakite, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; Andre, Mukau; Zhegrova, Haraldsson, Fernandez-Pardo; David
Unavailable: Umtiti (Injured), Santos (Injured), Bakker (Suspended), Bentaleb (Illness)
Questionable: Ang. Gomes (Injured), Mbappe (Injured)
Nantes Team News: Couple of injuries
Zimbabwe international attacker Tino Kadewere, formerly of Lyon, has been unavailable for over a month and remains sidelined for the visitors alongside fellow attacker Adel Mahamoud, dealing with a knee injury.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Carlgren; Amian, Castelletto, Pallois, Duverne, Cozza; Lepenant, Pedro Chirivella, Douglas Augusto; Abline, Simon
Unavailable: Mahamoud (Injured), Kadewere (Injured)
Questionable:
Lille vs Nantes Prediction
Ligue 1 being reduced to 18 teams a couple of seasons ago means things are a little more congested throughout the league table, other than ever at the top really, and that means there are fewer hammerings, other than involving the team at the top, PSG. However, we do have one of the more one-sided games on paper for this one with Lille looking to get their restart underway in impressive style and a comfortable home win is to be expected at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Lille vs Nantes Tip: Lille to win
