St Etienne vs Lille Predictions

• St Etienne have lost their opening three league games of the season, failing to score in each of those defeats
• Lille have won seven of their last 11 Ligue 1 matches, with both of their victories this season coming to nil
• Les Dogues are unbeaten in seven meetings with St Etienne’s, although the last four clashes between the pair have finished level

St Etienne’s struggles set to continue

St Etienne’s return to the French flight could not have started much worse, with Olivier Dall’Oglio’s men losing all three of their Ligue 1 matches to nil this term. 

The international break has come at a good time for the Green and Whites but, unfortunately for their fans, their next opponents have enjoyed an excellent start to the season under new boss Bruno Genesio. 

Lille won their opening two league matches to nil before losing 3-1 to giants Paris St-Germain – a result which can be excused – and they should prove far too strong for their hosts at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Lille likely to dominate proceedings

Not only should Lille win on Friday, they look set to do so with ease. St Etienne were completely dominated by Brest – who had lost their opening two matches by an aggregate score of 7-1 – last time, losing the shot count 22-6 and eventually being thrashed 4-0. 

A repeat of that performance would surely see them struggle against Les Dogues, who have won seven of their last 11 league matches and are unbeaten in their last seven meetings with the Green and Whites. 

Defensive resilience was key to their fourth-place finish last term, with only PSG and Nice conceding less goals than their 34, and they should have no issues in shutting out a side yet to score this season when winning on Friday.