Lille: Goalscoring defenders lead the way!
One To Watch
Like Thomas Meunier against Angers SCO on Saturday in Ligue 1 McDonald’s, LOSC Lille can count on defenders to help their attackers find the net...
50% of the goals scored by LOSC Lille during the first two rounds have been scored by defenders (Bafodé Diakité and Meunier). Thus, two of the seven defenders to have found the net this season are from Lille (6 defenders scored on matchday 2).
As we pointed out before the season in our advice for Fantasy Ligue 1, the Dogues have one of the most effective among them in the person of Bafodé Diakité, scorer of his ninth goal at the start of the season (56 games played). He has been only surpassed by Achraf Hakimi (PSG) in the ratio of goals scored per game played in Ligue 1 McDonald’s.
Among the defenders currently playing in Ligue 1 McDonald’s, LOSC therefore has two in the top 10 scorers and a third who is knocking on the door. In addition to Diakité, top scorer among defenders in 2023/24 (5 goals), Lille have Aïssa Mandi. The former Stade de Reims player scored 13 times between 2011 and 2016 with the Champagne side in the top flight.
Then, the Belgian full-back scored a 9th goal in the top flight, his first with Les Dogues, which allows him to sit in 11th position among the best scorers among defenders.
Top scorers among defenders currently in Ligue 1 McDonald’s:
1. Marquinhos (PSG): 24 goals
2. Kenny Lala (SB29): 17 goals
3. Achraf Hakimi (PSG) and Jonathan Clauss (OGCN): 14 goals
5. Aïssa Mandi (LOSC) and Yunis Abdelhamid (ASSE): 13 goals
7. Bafodé Diakité (LOSC) and Issiaga Sylla (MHSC): 12 goals
9. Djibril Sidibé (TFC), Guillermo Maripan (ASM): 11 goals
11. Thomas Meunier (LOSC) and Nicolas Pallois (FCN): 9 goals
A week of tests for the Lille defense
Whether it’s Wednesday in the second leg of the Champions League Play-offs in Prague or Sunday at 8:45 p.m. against the leaders, PSG, at home, the defenders of the northern side could once again prove decisive in the opponent's penalty area while having as their first mission to extend the current good run of Bruno Genesio's troops with three clean sheets in a row in all competitions, including two in Ligue 1 McDonald's.
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