Both sides are having a good start to the new campaign, but I think home advantage will make a difference for Lille here.
Key Stats
- Lille have won 2 of their last 3 matches.
- Real Betis have lost 2 of their last 3 away matches.
No Previous Meetings
This is going to be the first head to head match between Lille and Real Betis.
Lille Looking Great Under Ancelotti
Lille appointed Davide Ancelotti as their new head manager earlier this summer, and so far their results have been good in the new campaign.
Les Dogues won their opening Ligue 1 match against Angers 2-0, veteran Olivier Giround breaking the deadlock early, while Tiago Santos set the final score.
They were a couple of minutes away from beating PSG in the second round, entering stoppage time with a 2-0 lead but shockingly conceded twice. Last weekend, Ancelotti's side returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win at Toulouse.
Real Betis Enter This Clash as Underdogs
This is the second time in Real Betis' history to reach the UCL main stage, the first one being in 2005. They secured a spot after finishing 5th in La Liga last season.
Manuel Pellegrini's side kicked things off with two league 1-0 victories against Real Sociedad and Valencia, followed by a surprising 5-2 road loss to Levante.
They hosted Real Madrid on Friday, had 0.93-3.46 expected goals and 10-20 shots, but still were lucky to take a huge 1-0 victory. Troy Parrott was the hero with his late goal.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Lille (4-2-3-1) Berke Ozer; Tiago Santos, Nathan Ngoy, Alexsandro, Romain Perraud; Benjamin Andre, Nabil Bentaleb; Dilane Bakwa, Hakon Haraldsson, Basar Onal; Olivier Giroud
Head coach Davide Ancelotti must manage notable squad omissions, as Hamza Igamane and Tanguy Nianzou Kouassi remain sidelined through injury while Matias Fernandez-Pardo stays unavailable.
Head coach Davide Ancelotti must manage notable squad omissions, as Hamza Igamane and Tanguy Nianzou Kouassi remain sidelined through injury while Matias Fernandez-Pardo stays unavailable.
Real Betis (4-2-3-1) Alvaro Valles; Hector Bellerin, Diego Llorente, Natan, Fran Garcia; Marc Roca, Pablo Fornals; Antony, Isco, Rodrigo Riquelme; Cucho Hernandez
Real Betis are travelling to France burdened by multiple fitness concerns, missing Diego Conde, Aitor Ruibal, Giovani Lo Celso, and Ismael Barea.
Real Betis are travelling to France burdened by multiple fitness concerns, missing Diego Conde, Aitor Ruibal, Giovani Lo Celso, and Ismael Barea.