Lille take on the visitors Monaco in the round 2 match of French Ligue 1. The match will be played on Sunday, August 24th at Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Villeneuve d'Ascq).
Lille will try to remain among the leaders of French football. The Dogues are the last team to win Ligue 1 outside of PSG’s dominance. Replicating that triumph has been impossible, but they have still managed to deliver respectable results in recent seasons. Last year, while also reaching the Champions League knockout stage, they collected 17 wins and 60 points. The exact same record as Nice, yet by tie-breakers Lille were left in 5th, missing out on the Champions League spot and heading into Europa League play instead. Their inconsistency away from home proved costly, as dropped points against mid-table sides derailed their top-four push. Over the summer they lost key names — Jonathan David departed as a free agent, while Gomes, Gudmundsson, Chevalier, and Diakité also left. On the flip side, Bruno Génésio welcomed new arrivals, the most notable being Olivier Giroud’s return to France. The veteran striker showed his value at Brest last season, and Lille’s opener against them ended in an entertaining 3-3 draw.
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Monaco appointed Adi Hütter two years ago, and he immediately turned them into runners-up, finishing only behind PSG. The following campaign, Monaco impressed in the Champions League group stage and came close to repeating their domestic success, but ultimately slipped behind Marseille. The key, however, was that they edged both Nice and Lille by a single point to secure another Champions League berth. This consistency has re-established Monaco as one of the top contenders in France. Over the summer, they bolstered their squad with intriguing but risky signings — Ansu Fati, Paul Pogba, and goalkeeper Hradecky. The new season began positively, with a commanding 3-1 home win over Le Havre that showcased their attacking efficiency. Momentum and squad depth could give them an advantage heading into this clash.
Lille have won half of the last six meetings between the sides (including a 2-1 victory in February), suffering just one defeat in that stretch. Monaco enter as favorites and should be able to prove it. The value lies in backing an away win for the Monégasques.
Prediction for the match: AS Monaco to win.
