Lille will welcome Brann to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy for their first game of the UEFA Europa League (UEL) league phase on Thursday evening. The hosts come into this clash off the back of a disappointing 3-0 defeat away at Lens in Ligue 1.
Meanwhile, Brann beat Sandefjord 3-0 away from home in the Eliteserien last time out. However, Lille are a higher level of opposition, and so the visitors will be underdogs heading to France.
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Lille vs Brann prediction: Hosts should have too much quality
Key stats
- Lille have won four games in a row on home soil in all competitions.
- Brann are unbeaten in six matches in total across all competitions, winning five of them.
- Both teams have scored 27 goals combined in their previous five games in all competitions.
Correct score prediction: Lille 3-1 Brann
While Brann are in excellent form, Lille are a different level of opposition to what they have faced in recent matches. We are expecting the hosts to record a fairly comfortable victory here.
Pre-game odds and win probability: Lille large favourites with bookmakers
- HOME: 4/9 (1.44) – 69.2%
- DRAW: 18/5 (4.60) – 21.7%
- AWAY: 11/2 (6.50) – 15.4%
*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change
As shown by the implied probabilities, Lille are unsurprisingly the overwhelming favourites to kick off their UEL campaign with all three points on home soil. A draw can be backed at just under 22%, while Brann are given just over a 15% chance of producing a shock.
Also, feel free to check out our dedicated Football Betting Tips Today page, as well as our Europa League predictions & betting tips page.
Most recent H2Hs: First-ever meeting
These two sides have never met in a competitive outing before, with Thursday night representing their first-ever H2H. Given that Ligue 1 is of a higher quality than the Eliteserien, Lille should be expected to beat Brann, especially at their home stadium.
Lille preview: Plenty of injury problems
Lille will be missing a number of key squad players due to injury. Alexsandro, Thomas Meunier, Ousmane Toure and Marc-Aurele Caillard are all expected to miss out for the hosts.
Predicted lineup: Ozer (GK); Mandi, Ngoy, Mbemba, Perraud; Bentaleb, Bouaddi; Correia, Mbappe, Sahraoui & Giroud
Last five results:
- Lens 3-0 Lille
- Lille 2-1 Toulouse
- Lorient 1-7 Lille
- Lille 1-0 Monaco
- Brest 3-3 Lille
Brann preview: Two injury concerns
Brann are likely to be without both Sakarias Opsahl and Niklas Jensen Wassberg again with ongoing injuries. Otherwise, the Norwegians are expected to field their strongest XI possible.
Predicted lineup: Dyngeland (GK); Pedersen, Knudsen, Helland, Soltvedt; Kornvig, Sorensen, Myhre; Hansen, Magnusson & Castro
Last five results:
- Sandefjord 0-3 Brann
- Brann 3-2 Valerenga
- Kristiansund 2-2 Brann
- AEK Larnaca 0-4 Brann
- Brann 2-1 AEK Larnaca
Player to watch: Olivier Giroud
The UEL is a competition that Olivier Giroud is very familiar with, and has been very successful in. Indeed, Lille's veteran French striker won the competition with Chelsea back in the 2018/19 season, finishing as its top scorer, and has found the back of the net no fewer than 15 times in total across the tournament's long history.