FC Lorient - Stade de Reims

- Kick-off: 15:00

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Lorient have been this season's biggest surprise package in Ligue 1 Uber Eats under Régis Le Bris, and they sit just a single point behind leaders and champions Paris Saint-Germain after 10 games played.

Les Merlus have only dropped four of a possible 30 points, and could go top should they beat Reims whilst PSG slip up to Olympique de Marseille in le Classique on Sunday.

Dango unchained

Le Bris has dispensed with the wing-back system deployed by his predecessor Christophe Pélissier, with winger Ouattara in particular thriving with four goals and five assists for a goal-involvement every 83 minutes this season.

The Burkinabé was suspended for Sunday's 2-1 win at Stade Brestois 29, but Lorient are far from a one-man team, with Terem Moffi's brace lifting him onto eight goals scored in the current campaign.

Watch: Highlights of Lorient's 2-1 win at Brest

"It was a difficult win because there were ups and downs," said Le Bris, who's opposite number Michel Der Zakarian was sacked on Tuesday. "We had to react very quickly after Laurent Abergel's injury, but Quentin Boisgard did well when he came on. We changed system and the subs made a difference.

"We're very happy to experience these winning moments because we know that they're rare. Our league position's anecdotal; there are still 28 games to play. It's big but we can't get ahead of ourselves."

Abergel out until 2023

Abergel fractured his arm and has been ruled out until the end of the year. Despite Boisgard's performance, Bonke Innocent is the favourite to replace him at the base of midfield with Le Bris likely to stick with his favoured 4-2-3-1 with Outtara also back.

Gedeon Kalulu remains out with a calf strain, so Le Bris' nephew Théo should get the nod at right-back.

PSG frustrated

Reims were undefeated against Lorient last season, and won their most recent meeting 2-1 in May, but recent history has been less kind to the Champagne club, and they travel to the Stade du Moustoir 13 places and 17 points worse off than their hosts.

Oscar Garcia's side are without a win five since beating Angers SCO 4-2 at the end of August, but there were shoots of promise last Saturday, when they held PSG to a goalless draw at their Stade Auguste-Delaune.

Watch: Highlights of Reims' goalless draw with PSG

Garcia wasn't present for that game due to "family reasons," while Junya Ito (suspension), Maxime Busi (thigh strain) and Jens Cajuste (ankle ligaments) were missing then and now. Youngster Yehvann Diouf seems to have replaced Patrick Pentz as first-choice goalkeeper, meanwhile.

"Diouf won his one-on-one with [Kylian] Mbappé in the first half and showed that he's a young goalkeeper who can make mistakes but bounce back from them," said Will Still, who covered for Garcia whilst he was back home in Barcelona.

Still: 'foundation stone'

"I think we need to build on the fact that we didn't concede, and our state of mind was super interesting and positive. Perhaps it's the foundation stone for something greater."

As well as Ito, Busi and Cajuste, Reims' list of absentees stretches to Thomas Foket (hamstring), Rafik Guitane (knee), Kaj Sierhuis (ruptured cruciate) and Florent Duparchy (fractured jaw). Marshall Munetsi is one booking away from a suspension but will surely be thrown into midfield against in-form Lorient.

Possible teams

Lorient: Mvogo; Le Bris, Laporte, Talbi, Le Goff; Innocent, Le Fée; Diarra, Ponceau, Ouattara; Moffi

Reims: Diouf; Gravillon, Agbadou, Abdelhamid; Flips, Munetsi, Matusiwa, Lopy, Locko; Balogun, Zeneli