Lille vs Lorient Prediction & Betting Tips (19 January)

Champion of France last year at the end of a rather incredible season, Lille had great difficulty digesting the departure of their coach Christophe Galtier for Nice. Now under the leadership of Jocelyn Gourvennec, the Mastiffs experienced many difficulties during the first part of the season but they showed a lot of progress during the last weeks of competition. The northern club won 5 victories in 6 games in December, including that against Wolfsburg 3-1 which qualified it for the round of 16 of the C1 and another in Bordeaux 2-3 which replaced it in the upper half of the rank. 2022, however, starts a little less well for Lille. LOSC was eliminated from the Coupe de France after losing the derby to Lens 2-2 on penalties, then the 10th in Ligue 1 was able to grab a draw brought back from Marseille to 10 against 11 1-1. For its part, Lorient experienced a very painful first half of the exercise. After obtaining several victories during the first weeks of competition, the Hakes lost the recipe for success and locked themselves in a very bad dynamic.

They have lost their last 7 league matches in 2021, a year that ended in Coupe de France elimination to neighbors Rennes 1-0. But the efforts of the Morbihannais finally seem to be bearing fruit. For its first 2 outings in 2022, the team led by Christophe Pelissier hung a PSG 1-1 which equalized in the last moments. It is on this same score that his trip to Angers ended last weekend. Nothing to exult but Lorient goes back to 18th place, that of roadblocker.

A few elements are missing from Jocelyn Gourvennec for this match. These are substitutes Jardim and Pied who are out of form. On top of that, striker Ikoné has left for Fiorentina and Turkey international Yilmaz is leaving for Moscow. His replacement, Croatian international winger Zhergova, is not qualified for this meeting after having just signed for LOSC. Expelled Sunday evening against OM, the precious Benjamin André is suspended. Very interesting during the first leg, the Canadian David finished at the top of the scoring charts for the first part of the season with 12 goals, but he has yet to score in 2022. The Hakes are still diminished by the absences of the defender Morel and substitute Loric. To this we add that Ouattara, who was playing more and more, left to play the CAN, and that Fontaine and Diarra are in the recovery phase.

Finally, the disappointing Grbic packed his bags for the transfer window. Just arrived, the Nigerian defensive midfielder Bonke Innocent (Malmö) is not qualified for this match. On the other hand, the experienced Lemoine is back. The very important Laurienté last season (4 goals) fails to confirm, no more than his friend in attack Moffi. The latter has not scored since the first day and has not been called up with the Super Eagles of Nigeria to compete in the CAN. With only 15 goals scored, the Lorient have the worst attacking record of the elite teams.