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Having secured a mid-table finish in 2025/26, Angers return to Ligue 1 proceedings for a third consecutive season when they host Lille in their season opener at Stade Raymond Kopa on Sunday 23 August.
Under new manager Davide Ancelotti, Lille have Champions League football on the horizon. For Angers, a top-half finish is a realistic season objective.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Angers vs Lille key stats
- Angers finished 2025/26 in 13th position in Ligue 1.
- Les Scoistes are winless in six straight home league matches.
- Lille have won six successive away Ligue 1 games.
- Only one of Lille’s last seven games saw both sides score.
Angers vs Lille preview: Home side fall short in humbling
Angers vs Lille — Tale of the Tape
| Angers | vs | Lille |
|---|---|---|
| 13th (Ligue 1 25/26) | Position | 3rd (Ligue 1 25/26) |
| 36 | Points | 61 |
| 29 | Goals For | 52 |
| 48 | Goals Against | 37 |
| 11 | Clean Sheets | 13 |
| 14th | Home / Away Rank | 9th |
Angers faced the threat of relegation to Ligue 2 last season as they went winless in their final nine top-flight matches, losing five in the process. However, sets of positive results earlier in the campaign provided them a safety cushion.
Angers were particularly poor on home turf, winning only six of their 17 Ligue 1 home games in 2025/26. They also scored only six Ligue 1 home goals in 2026 – the second-fewest of any side across Europe’s top-five leagues.
New manager Stephane Gilli arrives from Paris FC with the task of landing the hosts a top-half finish.
For Angers, only Algerian midfielder Haris Belkelba is missing due to a thigh injury. Apart from Hamza Igamane, who is suffering from a knee injury, Lille have no problems in their squad. Two suspensions from the previous season carry on here: Benjamin Andre and Matias Fernandez-Pardo.
Lille secured an impressive third-placed finish last season – their highest since 2020/21 – thus earning automatic Champions League qualification.
The Mastiffs are unbeaten in nine successive Ligue 1 season openers, which is the longest ongoing streak in the top flight, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.
They also had a mixed pre-season, winning and drawing two of their five friendlies. Their only loss came against Belgian outfit Royale Union SG.
Angers vs Lille form guide & betting tips
| Angers | vs | Lille |
|---|---|---|
DLLDD |
Last five form – 2025/26 season | DWDWL |
| 12 | Goals For | 13 |
| 8 | Goals Against | 8 |
WWLWW |
Last five | WLWDD |
Whispers predicts: Angers 0-3 Lille
Lille have only conceded one first-half goal in their last seven away league matches. HT/FT – Lille/Lille at 7/4 (2.75) offers valuable returns, according to bet365.
BTTS – No at 17/20 (1.85) carries significant value, with only one of Lille’s last seven games seeing both teams score and Angers failing to score in three successive H2Hs.
Over 2.5 total goals at 1/1 (2.00) is also a bet worth backing. New signings Basar Onal and Loun Srdanovic could make their debuts and prove instrumental in adding to the scoreline.
> Lille/Lille at 7/4 (2.75) | Likelihood: Likely
> BTTS – No at 17/20 (1.85) | Likelihood: Probable
> Over 2.5 total goals at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Probable