PartialLogo
Sport

Sunday's Ligue 1, Bundesliga and Serie A predictions and free football tips

Lens can get the better of Derby du Nord rivals Lille

In-form Lens can take derby spoils against Lille
In-form Lens can take derby spoils against LilleCredit: Francois Lo Presti

Best bets and predictions for Sunday's matches in Ligue 1, the Bundesliga and Serie A.

Best bets

Lens to beat Lille
BT Sport 5, 7.45pm
1pt 15-8 Hills

Union Berlin to beat Stuttgart
Sky Sports Football, 6.30pm
1pt 19-10 bet365

Napoli to win & over 2.5 goals v Cremonese
BT Sport 2, 5pm

1pt 11-10 bet365, BoyleSports, Coral

Sunday preview

Lens have proved themselves a capable side in Ligue 1 with successive seventh-placed finishes in France's top flight, but the Blood and Gold are clearly hungry for more and are threatening to break into the European places this campaign.

Still unbeaten in the league, Lens have won six of their nine assignments and are in great shape ahead of Sunday's Derby du Nord with Lille.

A lot of the talk around Lens has focused on the strike partnership of Florian Sotoca and Lois Openda, who have combined for ten league goals this term, but their rearguard has also been impressive, conceding just seven times in Ligue 1.

Manager Franck Haise, who had been linked with Brighton following Graham Potter's departure, oversaw home and away wins against Lille last term and his side can again get the better of their rivals.

Like Lens, Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin are exceeding expectations this season, although they will be keen to prove last week's 2-0 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt - their first league defeat of the season - was merely a blip.

Next up for them is a Stuttgart team who are still awaiting their first league win after eight games and already find themselves in the relegation zone.

Union boast real quality in the final third, especially Sheraldo Becker, who has six goals and three assists to his name in the Bundesliga and scored the winner in Berlin's 1-0 win at Malmo in the Europa League on Thursday.

In Italy, meanwhile, Napoli mean business.

The Neapolitans have been in the headlines for thrashing Liverpool 4-1, Rangers 3-0 and Ajax 6-1 in their first three Champions League group games but they have also looked unstoppable in Serie A.

With six wins and two draws from eight league matches, Napoli are among the early pacesetters in the Italian top flight and their thrilling attacking play has been central to their strong start.

Georgian ace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has terrorised defences all season, while Giacomo Raspadori and Giovanni Simeone have also looked sharp through the middle.

It is hard to envisage anything but another win for Napoli when they take on Cremonese, who have looked out of their depth in Serie A with no wins in eight games.

Back Napoli to win and over 2.5 goals at the Giovanni Zini.


Not got a William Hill account? Sign up and bet £10 to get £30 in free bets

Open a new account using Promo code H30 only, Min £10 stake, min odds 1/2, free bets paid as 2 x £15, free bets credited after settlement of first qualifying bet, free bets will expire 30 days after the qualifying bet is placed, payment method/player/country restrictions apply. T&Cs apply 18+ begambleaware.org

CLAIM OFFER HERE


MORE FREE BETS


Sign up to emails from Racing Post Sport and get all the latest news and tips

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Racing Post Sport

Published on inSport

Last updated

iconCopy