- Lille have lost their last three home games and five straight games in all competitions.
- Freiburg have a win and two draws from three away games in this season’s UEFA Europa League, conceding just twice.
- Freiburg have three wins from their last five games, including a pair of consecutive victories in all tournaments.
Tactical clash could see both teams on the scoresheet
Two very different teams with contrasting styles will do battle at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Thursday when Lille host Freiburg in a crucial UEFA Europa League 2025-2026 group-stage match.
While the visitors sit third in the group with 17 points from 7 matches, Lille must win to keep their slender hopes alive. However, they are coming off a run of five straight defeats in all contests, including a 1-4 hammering at home to Strasbourg just two days ago.
The odds are 1.9 for the home side, with Freiburg available at 3.9 and the draw at 3.45. Our belief is that the draw will favour the visitors, who have won three of their last five matches.
But Lille will be playing for their lives, so we think this game will be tight, which is why we’re tipping a both teams to score choice in this fixture.
Grifo is a goal threat for the visiting side
Vincenzo Grifo has made a real impact on Freiburg’s attacking play, scoring two goals in seven Europa League appearances.
However, the most in-form goalscorer for the Bundesliga outfit is Igor Matanovic, who has four goals in his last five appearances. Hamza Igamane has scored four in five for Lille in this year’s competition and will be the main man Freiburg must stop if the home team are to come away with the win.
Schuster’s side can grind out a result
Lille have changed their style of play to be more possession-based and shape-shifting since Bruno Genesio took over as head coach in June 2024.
They like to overload the centre of the field, control the ball in wide areas and play on the transition from possession to pressing when they are able to win the ball back in advanced areas. However, they are vulnerable to the counter-attack and have conceded 5 goals in 3 games at home in this tournament.
Freiburg will try to overload the wide areas to pull Lille’s full backs out of position and cause problems behind their defence while being disciplined in their link-up play.
The Breisgau Brazilians will press in pockets but will always fall back into a structured defensive system that can create space for their quick players to drive forward from the flanks.
Julian Schuster’s system has given Freiburg some excellent results in Europe since he took over in July 2024 and we’re backing them to get a positive result from the away trip to Lille on Thursday.
