Bitesize Prediction: Lille vs Troyes

Competition: Ligue 1

Market: Lille win & Under 4.5 goals

Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways on Sunday lunchtime, Lille will welcome Troyes to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Starting with the hosts, left frustrated away at Brest earlier in the week after settling for a 0-0 stalemate, Lille will be seeking an immediate response here. However, marking their return from the World Cup’s winter break last month with a routine 2-0 victory away at Clermont, the former French champions are enjoying an eye-catching run of form. Extending on their Coupe de France adventure on January 8th with another 2-0 victory against Sunday’s guests on home soil, Paulo Fonseca’s men now have their sights set on securing a European return this season. Shipping just a single strike since returning from the festive interval, the former Roma boss has seen his side gain plenty of praise over recent months. In fact, Lille have lost just one of their last 10 straight domestic matchups across all formats – a run that stems back to October 2nd.

As for the visitors, while Troyes might have opened 2023 with a much-needed 3-2 win away at Strasbourg, it appears that was just a minor boost for Patrick Kisnorbo’s men. Last seen earlier in the week putting in another downbeat display as they were hit with a 2-0 loss at home against Marseille, the Blues are firmly looking over their shoulder at a potential relegation scrap. In what has been a nightmare run of form on either side of the World Cup break, it should be noted that the former Melbourne City boss has seen his side win just one of their last 11 straight domestic showdowns across all formats. With that run stemming all the way back to September 18th, Troyes should be bracing themselves for another stern test here. Hit with that 2-0 loss when they made the trip to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy for a Coupe de France showdown last weekend, we’re backing a similar outcome.