Paulo Fonseca’s LOSC Lille are playing some of the most attractive football in France right now and have emerged as genuine contenders for European qualification as they begin the second half of the season against OGC Nice on Sunday.
OGC Nice – LOSC Lille Sunday at 13:00 CET (1200 GMT)
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Les Dogues ended the first half of the season in sixth place in the table, three points adrift of Stade Rennais FC in fifth, but they are very much on an upward trajectory. Lille are unbeaten in eight games since a 1-0 loss at Olympique Lyonnais at the end of October, which is their only defeat in 12. Their current run includes two matches in the Coupe de France, a comfortable 2-0 win at home to second-tier Pau last weekend taking them through to a last-16 tie against Lyon next month.
Beyond simple results it is the way Lille are playing that has really caught the eye. In recent weeks Fonseca has finally integrated summer signing Mohamed Bayo into the line-up with success, while Jonathan David remains the main goal threat. But around them there is an exciting array of creative talent, even in the absence of the injured Adam Ounas. Rémy Cabella and Edon Zhegrova have been impressive in recent weeks, while England Under-21 international Angel Gomes scored a superb goal off the bench against Pau and Timothy Weah has stood out as an attacking left-back. Jonathan Bamba, always a threat on the left flank, is still to return from injury.
For all that quality, Fonseca’s side were criticised for a lack of an end product at times before trouncing ESTAC Troyes 5-1 in their last league outing a fortnight ago, with Bayo and David both scoring twice. The question now is whether they can keep their form going into the second half of the campaign, which begins with this tough trip to the Côte d’Azur to face a Nice side who won 2-1 when the teams met in the far north in late August.
Must-win game for Nice?
Nice are currently languishing in mid-table, nine points adrift of Lille, so this surely represents a must-win game for Les Aiglons if they are to climb the standings and get themselves back into contention for European qualification via the league. Otherwise they are depending on winning the Europa Conference League just to get back into Europe next season.
Despite that win in Lille, it was a poor first half of the season for the south-coast side and one that cost coach Lucien Favre his job. He has been replaced on an interim basis by former club captain Didier Digard, who oversaw a stunning 6-1 win against Montpellier Hérault SC in his first game and followed that with a 0-0 draw at Stade de Reims last time out.
“We are still ambitious, of course,” captain Dante told L’Equipe TV this week. “We are playing catch-up in the league but we need to keep believing and stay positive. Results need to be better. If we can be more consistent then we can aim to finish higher up the table but first of all we need to improve our performances.”
Transfer moves
Of the new coach he added: “He wants us to be compact as a team but to always play with joy in possession and play with quite a high line to dominate the opposition. He transmits a lot of energy to the players and from what we have seen in the first few weeks we are enjoying it.”
Despite Favre’s sacking and Nice’s underwhelming league position, they have lost just once in their last 10 league outings. They remain ambitious in the transfer market too. Amid talk of a move for the FC Lorient striker Terem Moffi, Nice this week signed Youssouf Ndayishimiye, a 24-year-old Burundi international defender who arrives from Istanbul Basaksehir for a reported €11 million. Meanwhile Algerian midfielder Hicham Boudaoui has followed Jean-Clair Todibo in extending his contract to 2027.
Lille have also been making moves in the transfer window. Veteran goalkeeper Benoît Costil has arrived from AJ Auxerre on a deal to the end of the season. He replaces Brazilian Léo Jardim, who has signed for Vasco da Gama. Winger Isaac Lihadji has joined English Championship side Sunderland.
Probable teams
Nice: Schmeichel; Lotomba, Todibo, Dante (c), Bard; Ramsey, Boudaoui, Thuram; Pépé, Laborde, Diop
Lille: Chevalier; Diakité, Yoro, Djalo, Ismaily; André (c), Angel Gomes; Weah, David, Cabella; Bayo
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