In-form Lille welcome bottom club Angers to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Sunday, looking to close the gap on the top four in the final round of Ligue 1 fixtures before the World Cup break.
While the hosts had to settle for a draw with Rennes last weekend, the visitors saw their losing run extended to six as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to Lens.
Match preview
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Following a topsy-turvy start to Paulo Fonseca's reign at Lille, including a 7-1 drubbing at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain, the 2020-21 French champions hit a run of form in October, winning three games in succession against Lens, Strasbourg and Monaco.
While Les Dogues followed up that trio of victories with a draw and a defeat, they racked up 15 and 19 shots respectively in those contests, outperforming Lyon and Rennes considerably on the expected goals front as the results somehow slipped away.
The excellent playmaking form of Remy Cabella, who is averaging three key passes per game in recent weeks, alongside the renewed goalscoring prowess of Jonathan David, only behind Kylian Mbappe and Neymar in the Ligue 1 scoring charts, has seen Les Nordistes shoot up the table, just four points off Marseille in fourth.
Considering Fonseca's men have already played every other side in the top nine, expect an ever-improving Lille to make the most of a run of more favourable fixtures as they fight to keep in touch with the top four, starting with the visit of the bottom side.
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Angers, on the other hand, have endured a miserable few weeks, losing all of their last six games by an aggregate score of 15-6.
Following the loss of a whole host of key players in the summer, including Mohamed-Ali Cho, Angelo Fulgini and Enzo Ebosse, Le SCO have struggled to put together any kind of consistency, losing 10 of their 14 games in the league so far.
While their last three games have all been against sides in the top five, Gerald Baticle's men have also lost key duels against fellow strugglers Brest and Strasbourg, unable to make the most of home advantage in both of those ties.
Nonetheless, with the mercurial talent of Sofiane Boufal up front, alongside the energy of Azzedine Ounahi and Nabil Bentaleb in midfield, Angers do have flashes of quality throughout a squad that is capable of springing a surprise.
Team News
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The hosts will be without marauding full-back Ismaily for this one, as the Brazilian continues to recover from a thigh injury.
We could see Timothy Weah drop into left-back to cover for the former Shakhtar Donetsk man, as Jonathan Bamba should join David, Cabella and Adam Ounas up top.
Angers, meanwhile, will be missing key players in attack, as the skilful Boufal looks likely to be sidelined with an ankle injury.
Elsewhere, forward Lois Diony's anterior cruciate ligament tear should keep him out for the majority of the season.
Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Diakite, Djalo, Fonte, Weah; Andre, Gomes; Ounas, Cabella, Bamba; David
Angers possible starting lineup:
Fofana; Capelle, Hountondji, Amadou, Blazic, Melali; Ounahi, Bentaleb, Abdelli; Hunou, Salama
We say: Lille 3-0 Angers
While Angers have been relatively competitive against strong sides in their recent defeats, we cannot look past a rampant Lille side to record a convincing victory here.
Having played all the teams in and around them, an upcoming run against inferior opposition provides a great opportunity for Fonseca's men to keep the pressure on the top four, and we expect them to start that run with a bang.
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