Bottom-of-the-table Lyon will look to continue their recovery from a horrific start when they welcome Lille to the Groupama Stadium in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Fabio Grosso's side enjoyed their first victory of the season just before the international break, but it was not enough to pull them off the foot of the table.

Match preview

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Collecting their first three points of the season should give Lyon a boost on their return to action, especially considering it was away to a Rennes side who finished fourth last season.

Even though they played against an out-of-form side who had 10 men for 85 minutes, the Lyon squad will have been glad to not set a new all-time winless club record.

It was a strange weekend in Ligue 1 though, as the bottom three all won, with Clermont and Metz also earning very important victories, meaning the battle in the bottom half is now incredibly tight.

After Angers, Troyes and Ajaccio were so poor last season, the league's decision to cut Ligue 1 down to 18 teams appears to be justified, as the fight against relegation is already hotting up after just 12 games.

Lyon may be bottom, but they are just six points off rivals Marseille in 10th and only nine points adrift of a European spot, despite a woeful start.

Another win here could take OL off the bottom if Clermont fail to win, but they will remain in an automatic relegation spot no matter what happens this weekend as Lorient are four points ahead.

While the Rennes game appeared tough on paper, the next five do look incredibly arduous for Grosso's side.

The next four all come against sides in European competition - Lille, Lens, Marseille and Toulouse - before they then go away to Monaco.

Lille have been awkward customers here on plenty of occasions in the past decade for Lyon, but they did end a barren run by beating their visitors for the first time in 13 attempts at home last season.

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That came after a run of five Lille wins in six seasons at the Groupama, but their away form this season has been extremely peculiar.

Paulo Fonseca's side have not lost away from home since the opening day, but they have also won once on the road, at Le Havre in early October.

Seven of LOSC's nine away matches this season have ended in draws, including all three in Europe against much weaker opponents - Rijeka, KI Klaksvik and Slovan Bratislava.

With few teams showing much form though, that steady flow of points being added to the board means Lille are currently in the top four, thanks to being unbeaten in nine games.

Lille have only won two of their last 14 away games, but so far this season, 20 points from a possible 36 is currently good enough for a spot in fourth, which will now earn Champions League qualification in Ligue 1.

Team News

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Alexandre Lacazette scored the winner for Lyon in this fixture last season, and he should return to the starting XI after only being a substitute against Rennes.

Former Crystal Palace defender Jake O'Brien has repaid the faith shown in him by Grosso after starting the last five games, and he scored the only goal in that win last time out.

Lyon will be without full-back pairing Clinton Mata and Nicolas Tagliafico due to injury and suspension, respectively, while Johann Lepenant is also absent with a sprained knee.

Lille's Benjamin Andre is also serving a suspension for yellow card accumulation, joining Bafode Diakite and Tiago Djalo on the sidelines, but the latter is edging closer to a return from an ACL tear.

The in-form Edon Zhegrova should be raring to go after he did not go on international duty with Kosovo last week.

With Kosovo having to play three games, one of which was on the same weekend when league action was still happening, manager Primoz Gliha claimed Zhegrova did not want to meet up with the squad.

Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Kumbedi, Diomande, O'Brien, Henrique; Alvero, Tolisso, Caqueret; Cherki, Lacazette, Mama Balde

Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Tiago Santos, Yoro, Alexsandro, Ismaily; Bentaleb, Gomes, Cabella; Zhegrova, David, Ivan Cavaleiro

We say: Lyon 1-1 Lille

Draw specialists Lille are set for another one in a clash between two former French champions, with Lyon showing possible signs of improvement.

The visitors have a formidable record here, and while wins have been commonplace, a draw is most likely from this one, as their struggles to win on the road may continue.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Andrew Delaney

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