Football Results

Two first-division teams will meet in the last match of the fourth round of French Cup; where after 22 rounds Strasbourg occupies very good 10th place in the table and has five points more than 18th-positioned Lille. Their head-to-head played last autumn in Strasbourg had ended as sound victory of the home team 3-0, while in just three days the two teams will play the second league match in Lille.

Strasbourg

Before that both team will try to reach the round of 16 of the French Cup. According to all relevant parameters Strasbourg is far closer to achieve that objective, as it will enjoy the home-field advantage on Thursday evening. Strasbourg won at home last weekend Dijon 3-2 in the league, and it had defeated the same team three weeks ago in the third round of French Cup but it needed extra time to do so.

Before the latest victory over Dijon Strasbourg had three-game losing streak in the league, but thanks to good results made last autumn it still occupies a place around middle of table, or more precisely the 10th place. At the moment Strasbourg has five points more than teams in the drop zone. Let’s add that due to injuries still out of action are goalkeeper Oukidja, defender Ndour and midfielders Corgnet, while not fully recovered forward Blayac is questionable for this match.

Probable lineups RC Strasbourg: Bonnefoi – Lala, Mangane, Martinez, Seka – Martin, Aholou, Grimm, Lienard – da Costa, Terrier

Lille

We have said in the introduction that the guests from Lille currently occupy mere 18th place in the Ligue 1 table, which means their primary goal in continuation of season will be to move out of the drop zone and that will probably play with the 2nd team in the national Cup. This is even more likely as they lost two previous matches, to Rennes at home and Troyes away, while before that Lille won two away matches, with second-division Le Mans in the Cup and Caen in the Ligue 1.

Those two were first matches in which they had a new coach at the helm, Christophe Galtier, who replaced Argentinian Bielsa in the winter transfer window but obviously he too cannot win more than two matches in a row, which is necessary to take Lille into calmer waters. Regarding problems with absences, this match with Strasbourg in the French Cup will skip injured goalkeeper Enyeama, and defenders Malcuit, Soumaoro and Kouame.

Probable lineups OSC Lille: Maignan – Ie, Amadou, Alonso, Ballo-Toure – Maia, Mendes – El Ghazi, Benzia, Araujo – Pepe

Verdict:

Although both teams oscillates lately we have decided to give in this match a slight advantage to the home team, Strasbourg, mostly due to fact that Lille must focus on the survival battle in the Ligue 1.

Pick:  Asian handicap -0.25 Strasbourg 2.10 - 21/10 @1XBet