Angers vs Lille Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Angers and Lille are both beginning new eras in the 2026-27 season as they face off against each other at Stade Raymond Kopa on the opening day.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1+ / USA – beIN Sports Connect
Angers preview: Steadied but changed
For a second successive season after gaining promotion back to Ligue 1 in the 2023-24 campaign, Angers comfortably survived with a few months to go before fading away towards the end of the season last year - but that was and should be deemed a success.
They have since lost manager Alexandre Dujeux to Lorient. Dujeux has been replaced by Stephane Gilli. Gilli was sacked by Paris FC last season, with the ambitious and big spending Parisians unhappy at being in mid-table in February last season, despite only gaining promotion to the top-flight in the 2024-25 campaign.
Lille preview: Big risk taken
Like Angers, Lille have also lost their manager over the summer with the northerners losing Bruno Genesio to Olympique de Marseille. They have decided to take a punt on Davide Ancelotti, the son of Carlo, for just his second managerial role.
Ancelotti has been the assistant to his father at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, Real Madrid and with Brazil, as was the case at FIFA World Cup 2026. His only previous managerial role saw him sacked after half a season in charge of Botafogo after they finished sixth in the Brazilian Serie A.
Angers team news: No Belkelba
Angers only have one injury issue to deal with ahead of the visit to Lille on Sunday with midfielder Haris Belkelba remaining sidelined due to a thigh injury.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Lopes; Camara, Biumla, Lefort; Arcus, Mouton, Van den Boomen, Belkhdim, Kalulu; Bermont, Allevinah
Unavailable: Belkelba (Injured)
Questionable:
Lille team news: Couple of suspensions
Benjamin Andre and Matias Fernandez-Pardo begin this weekend missing through suspension, with striking duo Hamza Igamane and Olivier Giroud both doubtful.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ozer; Srdanovic, Ngoy, Alexsandro, Perraud; Bouaddi, Mukau; Mbappe, Haraldsson, Correia; Edjouma
Unavailable: Andre (Suspended), Fernandez-Pardo (Suspended)
Questionable: Igamane (Injured), Giroud (Injured)
Angers vs Lille prediction
Lille are expected to lose Morocco international midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi before the close of the summer transfer window and his protracted move has not helped their business in terms of incomings either, unaware of where they stood. That uncertainty is surely exacerbated by the risk they have taken on a manager that was also focused on another job as late as July with Brazil reaching the round of 16 of FIFA World Cup 2026. Home advantage and a solid manager in Gilli will give Angers confidence they can cause Ancelotti and Lille some major issues on the opening day of the campaign.
Angers vs Lille tip: Double chance - Angers to win or draw
