Match preview
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The positive results have been few and far between for Clermont, who followed up a 1-0 victory versus Lorient with a pair of 3-0 defeats against Lens and Brest while playing to a 1-1 draw with Montpellier in the middle of all that.

Pascal Gastien got them into the top-flight during the 2020-21 Ligue 2 season, but the 60-year-old is having difficulty keeping them afloat.
A late surge down the stretch of the 2022-23 season kept them in the top flight as they won eight of their final 10 league fixtures, but after 14 matchdays in this campaign, Les Lanciers have only claimed three points on two occasions.
It would be an understatement to say that this side have been poor in the attacking third throughout this competition, netting a mere nine times thus far, fewer than every team in the top five European leagues.
They have scored just a single goal in four all-time meetings with Lille in this competition, though that one strike was enough to earn them a 1-0 triumph at home during the 2021-22 campaign.
Only four of their 10 points this season have come at home, though this team have been much more compact on the back end at Stade Gabriel Montpied, conceding a goal or fewer in five of seven encounters.
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Heroic goalkeeping and clinical finishing powered Lille to another domestic triumph last Sunday, their third successive victory by a 2-0 score in all competitions.

With 26 points in league play this season, Les Nordistes have equalled their second-highest total after 14 matches in this competition, earning just three fewer points than they had at this same stage of their title-winning campaign in 2020-21.
Although Paulo Fonseca’s men won their previous away fixture in Ligue 1 against Lyon (1-0), Les Dogues have not recorded consecutive league triumphs as the visitors since August-September 2022 (two).
Their impressive unbeaten run has earned them a place in the knockout stage of the Europa League and put them within striking distance of a Champions League berth next season, a point behind Monaco for third place in Ligue 1 and just two back of Nice, who are second.
From the beginning of the new campaign until now, Lille have never lost a competitive match when netting multiple times, dropping points in only one of those contests (2-2 away at Rennes in Ligue 1).
Lille have only suffered one defeat versus Clermont in all of their top-flight fixtures, outscoring them 6-1 in four encounters.

Clermont Ligue 1 form:

Lille Ligue 1 form:

Lille form (all competitions):

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Team News
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Clermont will be without three players this weekend because of suspensions, including Cheick Oumar Konate, Maxime Gonalons and Maximiliano Caufriez.
Johan Gastien is likely a few weeks away from recovering after previously sustaining a muscle sprain, while Florent Ogier is out until late December with a knee injury.
After collecting a clean sheet in a November victory over Lorient, goalkeeper Mory Diaw has conceded seven goals in his last three domestic affairs.
Les Dogues will be without Tiago Djalo for at least another week due to an ACL sprain, while Ivan Cavaleiro should be back by late December following his thigh injury.
Last Sunday, Lucas Chevalier became the second goalkeeper in Ligue 1 this season to stop two penalty kicks, saving Simon Elisor in the opening half and doing the same to Lamine Camara in half number two.
Yusuf Yazici and Jonathan David each found the back of the net in stoppage time of the opening half against Metz to propel them to victory.Clermont possible starting lineup:Diaw; Pelmard, Caufriez, Borges; Cham, Magnin, Keita, Allevinah; Boutobba, Nicholson, Kyei
Lille possible starting lineup:Chevalier; Santos, Yoro, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; Andre, Gomes; Haraldsson, Yazici, Cabella; David

We say: Clermont 0-3 Lille
Given the contrasting forms of each side, not to mention the significantly superior quality of the visitors we project, Clermont will suffer another blow that will take them further into the relegation zone.
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Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 2.5:data

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Match preview
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AZ Alkmaar were on the receiving end of a narrow albeit shock 2-1 defeat against NEC Nijmegen in Wednesday’s encounter between the teams.

Pascal Jansen’s men found themselves two down at half time thanks to strikes from Bas Dost and Bruno Martins Indi after which Vangelis Pavlidis pulled one back.
Whie the Cheeseheads remain third in the Eredivisie table, they have now fallen a whopping 15 points behind PSV Eindhoven in the race for the title.
Coming up next is the task of facing off against an opposing outfit who have been beaten in the previous two editions of this fixture by a combined score of 4-0.
Off the back of what was only a first league at home in over six months, Saturday’s hosts will be confident of securing an immediate return to winning ways in front of their fans.
Eredivisie newcomers Almere City fell to a 3-0 thrashing against Heerenveen when the sides faced off at the Abe Lenstra Stadion on Friday evening.
First-half goals from Pelle van Amersfoort and Sven van Beek left Alex Pastoor’s men with a mountain to climb at the interval before Van Amersfoort made sure of the result 20 minutes from time.
With just 13 points amassed from 14 matches this term, De Zwarte Schapen sit 16th in the standings, although they are only in the drop zone on goal difference.

Having seen their five game unbeaten streak on the road come to an end last time out, Saturday’s visitors now set out to avoid consecutive away losses for the first time since August.

AZ Alkmaar Eredivisie form:

AZ Alkmaar form (all competitions):

Almere City Eredivisie form:

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Team News
Mees de Wit is yet to make an appearance for AZ Alkmaar since late August and will not be playing any part in this weekend’s contest.
Vangelis Pavlidis has found the back of the net in each of his last four outings for the home side, making him one to keep an eye on here.
Twenty-three-year-old Hamdi Akujobi remains unavailable for selection having missed each of Almere’s last seven games through a damaged knee.
The home side will also be without the services of Faiz Mattoir but the Comoros international is not far off making a return to action.
AZ Alkmaar possible starting lineup:Ryan; Sugawara, Bazoer, Penetra, Wolfe; Clasie, Mijnans; Lahdo, De Wit, Van Brederode; Pavlidis
Almere City possible starting lineup:Bakker; Castell, Mbe, Van Bruggen, Jacobs, Floranus; Koopmeiners, Robinet, Resink; Hansen, Van La Parra

We say: AZ Alkmaar 4-1 Almere City
AZ Alkmaar hit a bump in the road last time out but we can see them serving up an immediate response with a comfortable win this time around, scoring plenty of goals en route.For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data

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Match preview
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Peterborough maintained their fine run of results with a 3-0 victory over Arsenal Under-21s in the second round of the English Football League Trophy on Tuesday, which followed a 2-1 win over Doncaster Rovers in the FA Cup.

The last time Darren Ferguson’s side played a league match was the 2-2 draw against Stevenage on November 28, leaving them in fifth place with 10 wins, five draws, four defeats and 35 points after 19 matches.
Peterborough have actually been victorious in seven of their last 13 league matches, while they have lost just once – away to Wigan Athletic in November – since the start of September.
After being demoted from the Championship in 2021–22, the Posh went on to finish sixth in League One last season, losing a thrilling playoff semifinal match to Sheffield Wednesday, who went on to defeat Barnsley in the final at the end of May.
Peterborough and Oxford settled for a goalless draw when the two sides last locked horns at London Road in April, but the reverse fixture ended in a 2-1 win for the Posh.
Oxford were also in EFL Trophy action on Tuesday, recording a 1-0 victory over Forest Green, which secured their spot in the next round of the competition.
Des Buckingham’s side also won 2-0 against Grimsby in the FA Cup on December 2, though they are winless in their last two in League One, including a goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers last time out.
Oxford have won 11, drawn three and lost four of their 18 league matches this season to collect 36 points, which has left them in third place in the third tier of English football.

The U’s have been great on the road this season, winning six and losing three of nine away matches in the league; however, they were beaten by Cheltenham Town on their last trip.

Peterborough United League One form:

Peterborough United form (all competitions):

Oxford United League One form:

Oxford United form (all competitions):

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Team News
Peterborough boss Ferguson could name the same XI that took to the field for the first whistle against Doncaster in the FA Cup on December 2.
As expected, a number of squad players and youngsters were involved against Arsenal in the EFL Trophy earlier this week, but the big-hitters will be back for this contest.
Kwame Poku and Ephron Mason-Clark have both scored seven times in the league during the 2023-24 campaign, and the pair will again feature in attacking areas for the hosts this weekend.
The visitors will be without top scorer Greg Leigh, who is currently sidelined with a calf injury.
Mark Harris is expected to lead the line once more, while Ruben Rodrigues should start in the supporting role.Peterborough United possible starting lineup:Bilokapic; Kioso, Knight, Edwards, Burrows; Kyprianou, Collins; Poku, Randall, Mason-Clarke; Jones
Oxford United possible starting lineup:Beadle; Stevens, Moore, Thorniley, Brown; McGuane, Brannagan; Mills, Rodrigues, Murphy; Harris

We say: Peterborough United 1-1 Oxford United
Peterborough have not lost to Oxford in their last six competitive meetings, but the visitors are different this season. The home side have been great in front of their fans, while Oxford have been solid on the road as well. We predict a close match with the score level at the end.
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Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data

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