LOSC Lille go to FC Nantes on Saturday looking to pick themselves up after going out of the UEFA Champions League to Chelsea, but injuries and fatigue are a problem for Les Dogues.
FC Nantes - LOSC Saturday at 21:00 CET (2000 GMT)
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Lille went out of the Champions League with their heads held high in midweek, taking a deserved lead at home to the reigning European champions through a Burak Yilmaz penalty before Chelsea fought back to win 2-1 on the night and go through to the quarter-finals 4-1 on aggregate. Despite the defeat, it was a memorable night at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy with a packed crowd of almost 50,000 creating a fantastic atmosphere in Lille’s first Champions League knockout tie since 2007.
However, after two appearances in three seasons in Europe’s elite club competition, Lille’s prospects of returning to continental competition are uncertain to say the least. Perhaps distracted by their Champions League campaign, and certainly hampered by the departures of some key players, Jocelyn Gourvennec’s side have put up a rather feeble title defence. They ended last weekend in sixth place in the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table, seven points adrift of the top three and six points behind Stade Rennais FC in fourth, which offers a spot in next season’s Europa League. They are even four points behind RC Strasbourg Alsace in fifth, the qualifying spot for the Europa Conference League.
LOSC need a strong finish to the season to snatch European qualification but they have fitness problems as they head to the Stade de la Beaujoire, not least in defence. Right-back Zeki Çelik and centre-back Sven Botman both came off hurt early in the second half against Chelsea. That meant Lille finished the game with Amadou Onana - a midfielder - alongside José Fonte in central defence, with Tiago Djaló at right-back and with Domagoj Bradaric getting a very rare run-out on the left.
Highlights: Lille held by Saint-Etienne
Gourvennec was already without Renato Sanches in that match, while the likes of Fonte and Jonathan David may soon be running on empty. Fonte has, remarkably at the age of 38, played every minute of every game in all competitions for Lille this season. Meanwhile, after this game, David will depart to represent Canada in a decisive triple-header of CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers.
“We only have Ligue 1 left now but the motivation is there to go and get a European place. We dream of playing in these games with a full stadium behind us,” said David, Lille’s 17-goal top scorer, after the Chelsea defeat.
Kombouaré plays down Euro hopes
Lille have boosted their European hopes on a run of five matches without defeat in the league since losing 5-1 at home to Paris Saint-Germain at the start of February. They have taken 11 points from the last 15 available and have not conceded a single goal in that time.
Nantes, too, are in European contention, sitting just a single point behind their weekend opponents. However, the danger is that they become distracted by the approaching Coupe de France final against OGC Nice, which will be played at the Stade de France on May 7. They had been on a four-game unbeaten run before a surprise 1-0 loss away at struggling ESTAC Troyes last Saturday.
Highlights: Nantes lose at Troyes
“I couldn’t care less about Europe, all I want to do is win,” said coach Antoine Kombouaré this week. “If we manage to win a lot of matches, then we will see where we are. There are 10 games left and 30 points up for grabs. Why would I talk about Europe? Last year we almost went down. Now we are in the Coupe de France final, we are seventh in the league, and we just want to win. If we are in contention with five games left, then we can talk about Europe.”
Nantes will be without defensive stalwart Nicolas Pallois for up to a month with a knee injury. That is a blow, but Les Canaris are hoping to take advantage of tiredness in the opposition ranks.
“They will be feeling the fatigue, but I don’t expect Lille to be diminished or demotivated, so if we are not ready for it we will be in for a very difficult evening,” added Kombouaré.
It will be a special occasion for his opposite number Gourvennec, who enjoyed three seasons at Nantes as a player, helping them reach the Champions League semi-finals in 1996.
Probable teams
Nantes: To follow
Lille: To follow
