Preview: Nice vs. Lille - prediction, team news, lineups

Nice will be hoping to bounce back from a 6-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League when they host Lille in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Lille were also in action on the continent on Thursday night, faring much better as they beat Sparta Prague 4-1.

Match preview

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Victory in the Czech Republic continued what has been a near perfect season for Christophe Galtier 's side so far. In Ligue 1 they have five wins and two draws from seven games, making them one of just two unbeaten sides left in the division along with Rennes.

Heading into the weekend's games, they sit top of the table after comfortably defeating local rivals Lens 4-0 last Sunday.

Considering that Lille sold both Victor Osimhen and Loic Remy in the summer - the pair scored 57% of the team's league goals last season - they have remained a threat going forward with 13 goals to their name.

Jonathan Bamba and new signing Burak Yilmaz have stepped up to the plate with three goals each so far.

Lille also have the best defensive record in Ligue 1 with just two goals conceded, despite seeing centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes depart for Arsenal.

Their record away from home is particularly impressive, as they have won 16 points from the last 18 available on the road.

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However Lille haven't won away at Nice in their previous eight attempts - last doing so in May 2012 when a 21-year-old Eden Hazard was in their starting lineup.

That may provide some comfort for Patrick Vieira as he aims to recover from his Europa League nightmare.

Nice have generally improved under the former Arsenal midfielder - they are currently fourth after finishing fifth when last season was curtailed - but have been liable to a heavy defeat.

They have lost by three goals or more on four occasions since the start of 2019-20 and ranked 15th in Ligue 1 last season for goals conceded.

They were 3-1 winners against St Etienne last time out in the league though, with summer signing Amine Gouiri on target again.

Having beaten Nantes the previous week, it was only the second time in the space of a year that Nice have achieved consecutive Ligue 1 victories.

A team made very much in their manager's image, Les Aiglons picked up five yellow cards in a 24-minute spell against St Etienne but are actually one of just four teams not to receive a red card so far this campaign.

Nice Ligue 1 form: WLLDWW

Nice form (all competitions): LLDWWL

Lille Ligue 1 form: WWDWWW

Lille form (all competitions): WDWWWW

Team News

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Danish international Kasper Dolberg hasn't scored in his last four games since netting a brace against Strasbourg in August, so may have to settle for a place on the bench with Amine Gouiri taking the lone striker role in Nice's side.

Attacking midfielder Rony Lopes should come back into the team after starting the Europa League defeat to Bayer Leverkusen on the bench.

Youcef Atal, linked with some of Europe's top clubs over the last year, is fit again following a thigh injury and is likely to start as the right wing-back.

For Lille, Yusuf Yazici is pushing for a first league start of the season after his hat-trick against Sparta Prague on Thursday. He also came off the bench to score against Lens last week.

Jonathan Ikone was also a goalscorer as a substitute last Sunday and may take Jonathan David 's place in the starting lineup.

Club-record signing David is yet to score for Lille having arrived from Gent in the summer.

Nice possible starting lineup:

Benitez; Bambu, Dante, N'Soki; Atal, Schneiderlin, Thuram, Kamara; Lopes, Lees-Melou; Gouiri

Lille possible starting lineup:

Maignan; Celik, Fonte, Botman, Bradaric; Yazici, Andre, Sanchez, Bamba; Yilmaz, Ikone

We say: Nice 1-2 Lille

The result of this game could depend on how quickly Nice can put Thursday night behind them. They shouldn't be beaten heavily again but may still struggle against a Lille side in fantastic form at both ends of the pitch.

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