We meet once again.
In Seville, Lille struck a blow by winning against the winner of the Europa League 2020. Second in group G in the Champions League, the Mastiffs display a less attractive face on the national scene.
Like Lille, Monaco regains color during European games but struggles to pull out of the game in Ligue 1. Respectively 12th and 11th in the league, Monaco and Lille must imperatively make a result on Friday to be in line with their objectives. set at the start of the season.
To discover
Ligue 1 fixtures and results
League 1 standings
Slow motion in Ligue 1
Authors of a spectacular comeback in the league last year, Niko Kovac's men only occupy 11th place this season.
A position which does not correspond to the standing of the club, whose objective is to qualify each year for the most prestigious of European competitions.
Third attack in the championship during the last season, the Monegasques are struggling to be dangerous in the offensive sector.
17th in terms of shots attempted, Monaco is only the twelfth team in terms of goals scored.
A lack of inspiration in the last few meters which poses a problem in claiming to play the leading roles.
A weakness that is lacking in the face of the behemoths of the championship evidenced by the defeats against Lens, Marseille or Lyon.
The Rocher club remain on two games without a win in Ligue 1 before facing another struggling team on the national scene, Lille.
Last year, Christophe Galtier's LOSC reigned supreme over Ligue 1. Best defense in the championship with 23 goals conceded, the Mastiffs won the title in the face and beard of Paris Saint-Germain. This season, Lille have many difficulties in renewing their performance from the previous year. Positioned a little and shining twelfth position, the proteges of Jocelyn Gourvennec are no longer so sovereign on the defensive level. With 19 goals conceded in 13 days, Lille have already conceded almost as many goals as last season. The Lille rearguard concedes 1.46 goals per game against 0.60 in 2020-2021. A defensive fragility which considerably slows down the rise in the ranking of Jonathan David's teammates. Defeated 5 times, the Mastiffs do nothad known defeat only three times in the year of the coronation.
For four meetings, Lille have run desperately behind a success in Ligue 1. A delay in ignition for two top names in the championship which is partly explained by their lack of success.
A lack of efficiency in both surfaces
In terms of statistics, the two teams pay for their lack of success in both areas.
With the “
Expected Points
”
indicator
(differential between the Expected Goals and Expected Goals Against which measures the number of points that a team should have taken according to the percentage of chances of scoring and conceding goals), Lille is fourth , Monaco fifth.
These two teams struggle to be effective in both surfaces, and lose avoidable points.
An observation shared by Jocelyn Gourvennec, the LOSC technician.
"
We have a recurring problem of efficiency.
It is difficult to attack and defend effectively.
We have to be more surgical up front.
(…) There is content, we show things but we have this problem of efficiency which lasts and which is annoying because we have to make progress on this.
"
Having found the net 16 times, Lille scores 1.23 goals per game, against 1.68 in 2020-2021.
A deficit which is explained by the lack of accuracy in the last gesture attests to the difference with the expected goals.
The Mastiffs should have scored 21.6 goals on the statistical barometer, a difference of five goals.
A lack of realism which is also pointed out by Niko Kovac, the coach of AS Monaco.
“
I know that we have been lacking in efficiency lately in the league and in the Europa League.
We are obviously not happy with this statistic, but we must remain positive anyway.
Currently we are in a bit of the same situation as Lille.
However, on the European scene, Monaco like Lille show a much better face.
Attractive in the European Cup
On the European lawns, Monaco and Lille hold the high dragee. In the Europa League, Monaco assumes its status as favorite in Group B. First in the pool, the Monegasques can get their ticket for the knockout stages from the next day. In a group raised with PSV Eindhoven and Real Sociedad, Niko Kovac's men are present. In the Champions League, Lille created a surprise by winning in Seville (1-2).
Second in a homogeneous group where everything remains possible, the Mastiffs can aspire to qualify for the next round.
A precious success that put an end to an inglorious series of 10 unsuccessful matches in the most prestigious of European competitions for the northern club.
A major performance, therefore for Lille, which will seek to repeat such a performance at the Stade Louis II, a den in which they have not won in Ligue 1 since 2009.
