Angers v Lille: European push meets top-half aim | OneFootball

Angers host Lille in Ligue 1 at Stade Raymond Kopa on Sunday, 22 February 2026, with the visitors defending fifth place and the hosts targeting a move towards the top half.

Lille edged the reverse fixture 1-0 in November and arrive in Angers needing a response after a run of league draws and defeats. Angers, meanwhile, have built momentum at home and could use this test to shift their mid-table picture.

Recent form points both ways. Angers have won their last two league games at home either side of a draw on the road, though they lost at Lorient last weekend. Lille are winless in their last four league matches, following defeats at Lyon and against Strasbourg with draws at Metz and at home to Brest, and also lost to Red Star Belgrade in Europe.

Team news shapes selection. Angers are without suspended defender Arcus Carlens. Lille list several absentees, including Thomas Meunier, Osame Sahraoui and Hamza Igamane, while Aïssa Mandi and Romain Perraud are among the fit defensive options.

The match-up could hinge on control versus compactness. Lille average 54% possession this season, with 35 league goals and strong supply from wide areas, including Felix Correia among the leading creators. Hakon Arnar Haraldsson has five league goals and offers movement around Olivier Giroud. Angers average 43% of the ball with eight clean sheets, so may sit organised and look to disrupt before breaking when chances appear.

A positive result would help Lille consolidate fifth and keep their Europa League grip. Angers, on 29 points, could climb towards the top half with a win and put further daylight between themselves and the bottom six.