The LOSC will absolutely want to extend its very good current series. The Mastiffs who won their ticket for the knockout stages of the Champions League on Wednesday evening have just won 3 consecutive victories, including 2 in Ligue 1 on the lawn of Rennes (2-1) and at home against Troyes (2-1).
A victory this midday would also allow Lille to come back to the level of Racing with 27 points and would tip them to the top of the table. A level that they have not known since the success of October 3 against Marseille. After this victory the LOSC was in 8th place in the championship standings.
The declared: “We want to win everything”
Jocelyn Gourvennec, who will always be deprived of Weah injured in the thigh and Reinildo suspended, hopes that his players will not release the pressure in order to sign a 4th success in a row ahead of Lyon: “We have been more efficient for a little while. This is what will allow us to confirm our rise in the standings. We started the series, we must persevere. We must remain demanding of ourselves. We have 3 matches left before the break, we want to win them all.“After Lyon this Sunday, Lille will host Auxerre in the Coupe de France on Saturday December 18 before concluding the year in L1 with a trip to Bordeaux on Wednesday December 22.
The player to watch: Ikoné in the light
Jonathan Ikoné should once again start against Lyon this Sunday noon. The public of Pierre Mauroy hopes to find on his lawn the “Jorko” twice elected men of the match in the Champions League. Against Sevilla, the former French international with 4 caps, scored the winning goal. In front of Wolfburg he gave 2 assists to Yilmaz and Gomes. Unfortunately in Ligue 1 the situation is totally different. Ikoné has often disappointed: In 17 matches he was decisive only once. And it’s starting to date since we have to go back to the first day of the championship, August 8, against Metz to see him score.
The stat: A collective spirit regained
LOSC still concedes a lot of goals, only 1 match in L1 without conceding against Marseille on October 3, but seems to find a collective strength which helps it to hold out in the complicated moments of a meeting. The Mastiffs have not known defeat since October 29 and the trip to Paris (1-2). Since then they have chained 8 matches without losing. Jocelyn Gourvennec’s players have notably won their last 3 Champions League matches: in Seville 2-1, ahead of Salzburg 1-0 and in Wolfsburg 3-1.
The “France Bleu Nord” line-up: What if Sanches started ahead?
Grbic – Celik Fonte Botman Gudmundsson – Ikoné André Xeka Bamba – Sanches David