Preview: Slovan Bratislava vs. Lille - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 7 November 2023, 16:58

Slovan Bratislava will be aiming to gain revenge on Lille for their recent defeat when they host the French side in the Europa Conference League on Thursday.

Lille moved top of Group A by beating the Slovakian champions 2-1 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy two weeks ago.

Match preview

However, Slovan Bratislava remain in a strong position to advance to the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League, having lost to Basel on penalties in the round-of-16 last season.

Vladimir Weiss's side defeated KI Klasvik and NK Olimpija Ljubljana in their opening two games, and they looked set to make it three wins in a row when taking a 1-0 lead away to Lille courtesy of Aleksandar Cavric's 23rd minute strike.

However, Yusuf Yazici equalised for the Ligue 1 side after the break, before Remy Cabella stole the show with only eight minutes of normal time remaining. Lucas Lovat's late dismissal left the Sky Blues with little hope of mounting a comeback.

With Slovan Bratislava looking on course to win their sixth successive domestic title given that they lead second-placed MSK Zilina by four points at the top of the table, Weiss and his players will be desperate to make an impact in Europe this season, with any positive result they can collect on Thursday likely to provide a major boost to their primary aim of reaching the next phase.

Likewise, Lille are enjoying themselves competing in European football once again having been absent last season following their below-par 10th-placed finish in Ligue 1 in the 2021-22 campaign.

However, former Porto and Roma boss Paulo Fonseca made a decent impact in his first season at the club, helping Lille finish fifth with 67 points, although they missed out on qualifying for the Champions League by six points.

The Northmen reached the first knockout stages of the Europa League and the Champions League in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns respectively, but they will fancy their chances of reaching a European quarter-final for the first time in the club's history given that they are competing at the third level of UEFA's competition this time around.

Drawing 0-0 away to KI Klasvik in the Faroe Islands has been the only blemish on their copybook so far, while an unbeaten run of five games in Ligue 1 helping Fonseca's side up to fifth position in their domestic league table. Depending on results elsewhere, claiming a victory in the Slovakian capital could all but seal their progression to the last-16.

Slovan Bratislava Europa Conference League form:

Slovan Bratislava form (all competitions):

Lille Europa Conference League form:

Lille form (all competitions):

Advert - content below:

Team News

Slovan Bratislava will be without Lovat due to suspension after his dismissal in the return fixture, meaning Matus Vojtko is likely to be called upon at left-back for the hosts.

Having produced a strong performance when falling to a late defeat away to Lille, Weiss may deploy a similar starting XI, although his son and namesake Vladimir Weiss may come into his father and manager's thoughts having missed out on appearing in France.

Lille, meanwhile, will travel without Bafode Diakite and Tiago Djalo due to foot and knee injuries respectively, but otherwise Fonseca appears to have a fully fit squad to select from.

Jonathan David, Samuel Umtiti and Cabella will be expecting starts after only being named on the bench for their side's 0-0 draw away to Marseille on Saturday, with former Manchester United player Angel Gomes potentially dropping into a deeper role in midfield.

Slovan Bratislava possible starting lineup:

Borjan; Bajric, Kashia, Wimmer; Barseghyan, Kucka, Savvidis, Kankava, Vojtko; Weiss, Cavric

Lille possible starting lineup:

Chevalier; Santos, Yoro, Umtiti, Gudmundsson; Gomes, Andre; Ounas, Yazici, Cabella; David

We say: Slovan Bratislava 1-1 Lille

Given that Slovan Bratislava almost gained a positive result away to Lille, they should fancy their chances of doing so with home advantage in their favour this time around.

Both sides are in strong positions to progress from Group A, so we can envisage both sides being content with a draw should the match appear to be heading in that direction.

Previews by email

Read full version: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/slovan-bratislava/europa-conference-league/preview/preview-slovan-bratislava-vs-lille-prediction-team-news-lineups_528431.html

Aleksandar Cavric
Angel Gomes
Bafode Diakite
Basel
Domestic
Europa
Jonathan David
Ligue 1
Lille
lineups
Lucas Lovat
matus vojtko
Mauro
Mount
Msk Zilina
Olimpija Ljubljana
Paulo Fonseca
Pena
Pierre
possible lineups
predicted scorelines
prediction
Remy Cabella
Samuel Umtiti
Sky Blue
Slovakia
Slovan Bratislava
Slovan Bratislava - Lille
Slovan Bratislava vs Lille
team news
The Break
Tiago Djalo
Vladimir
Vladimir Weiss
Yusuf Yazici
Zilina

Top News

23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Hatayspor vs. Adana Demirspor (Monday, 5.00pm) The battle of the bottom feeders in the Turkish Super Lig unfolds on Monday as Hatayspor host Adana Demirspor at the Mersin Stadyumu. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica vs. Estoril (Monday, 6.45pm) Separated by 10 places in the Primeira Liga table before gameweek 15, second-placed Benfica are clear favourites to outdo Estoril Praia at Estadio da Luz on Monday. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fiorentina vs. Udinese (Monday, 5.30pm) After their incredible success streak was finally brought to an end last week, Fiorentina will aim to start another winning run on Monday, when they meet Udinese. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Yemen and Saudi Arabia will celebrate Christmas Day by facing each other on matchday two of the Arabian Gulf Cup on Wednesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk First place in Group B of the Arabian Gulf Cup will be at stake on Wednesday as Bahrain and Iraq celebrate Christmas Day at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait. 23 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United transfer target Randal Kolo Muani is very likely to leave Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window, according to reports. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly set their sights on West Ham United attacker Mohammed Kudus, with Pep Guardiola keen to strengthen his struggling squad. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Arsenal for the signature of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer of 2025. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The final Premier League gameweek before Christmas appropriately served up some crackers, including a festive feast of goals in North London, where Liverpool ran riot in an exhilarating 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Even when the pulse settled a little after this compellingspectacle it was still difficult to know quite where to start todissect this nine-goal thriller. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Ange Postecoglou cut an irritated figure as he claimed he's going to stop answering questions about Tottenham's tactics. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur have supposedly expressed an interest in signing Borussia Dortmund attacker Julian Brandt next month. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's Mohamed Salah refused to give anything away when asked whether he could break Ian Rush's all-time goalscoring record after the Reds' remarkable 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool's astonishing 6-3 Premier League win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday evening saw a multitude of records and achievements surpassed, as the Reds moved four points clear at the top of the table. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Ahli have reportedly emerged as the favourites to sign Marcus Rashford, with the Manchester United attacker widely expected to be on the move during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Everton have become surprise leaders in one statistic across Europe thanks to their draw at home to Chelsea. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool will spend Christmas Day four points clear at the top of the Premier League table thanks to a breathtaking 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur in North London. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Kylian Mbappe struck a landmark effort to put himself firmly among Real Madrid's elite. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has insisted that he is "absolutely happy" with his side's goalless draw at Everton on Sunday. 22 December 2024 talksport.com If you thought Mohamed Salah couldn't set yet another record, think again. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk For a second time in successive Gulf Cup competitions, The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait will meet in the group stage, with this upcoming game taking place on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Amad International Stadium in Kuwait City. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen defender Jeremie Frimpong is supposedly not a 'concrete target' for Liverpool amid speculation over Trent Alexander-Arnold's future. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid moved into second spot in the La Liga table courtesy of a 4-2 success over Sevilla in Sunday afternoon's contest at Bernabeu, with Los Blancos ending 2024 on a high note. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Oman and Qatar will compete in the Gulf Cup for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday at Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, each seeking their first victory in this edition of the tournament. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly received offers from three clubs for defender Eric Garcia, but the player is pushing against a move away from Catalonia during the January transfer window. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have broken two unwanted club Premier League records in their humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk New Wolverhampton Wanderers' boss Vitor Pereira earned three points when his side comfortably beat Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City 3-0 away from home on Sunday afternoon in the Premier League. 22 December 2024 talksport.com Aaron Ramsdale was spotted wearing a modified goalkeeper glove in Southampton's Premier League clash at Fulham. 22 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea squandered the chance to go top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours as Everton held the Blues to a goalless stalemate at Goodison Park.