LOSC Lille – Olympique Lyonnais Friday at 21:00 CET (2000 GMT)

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Lacazette’s form has been a rare shining light in a difficult season for Lyon,  with the striker scoring 14 Ligue 1 Uber Eats goals, and 18 in all competitions, since returning to his boyhood club from Arsenal. However, the 31-year-old has not featured in any of OL’s last four games between league and cup since coming off injured in the 2-1 win over RC Lens at the Groupama Stadium on February 12.

The Lyon skipper had a thigh injury but he has been back in training and was included in a squad of 21 players for the trip to the far north. Thiago Mendes is also back for the game against his former club, while coach Laurent Blanc said Houssem Aouar was “getting better and better”. However, January signing Jeffinho, the Brazilian winger, is absent and goalkeeper Anthony Lopes will miss a second successive game because of an injured finger.

Rémy Riou is therefore set to continue in goal for OL, who have found form of sorts in recent weeks on a run of just one defeat in 10 games in all competitions. However, last weekend’s 0-0 draw at home to FC Lorient means they come into Round 27 in 10th place, six points adrift of Lille in sixth and seven behind Stade Rennais FC in fifth.

A victory here is therefore vital for Lyon if they are to retain any realistic chance of European qualification via the league. Otherwise, their focus will be on the Coupe de France, with a semi-final away to FC Nantes to come early next month.

Highlights: Lyon held by Lorient in Round 26

“If we had beaten Lorient we could still have hoped to go higher. We have dropped a lot of points, against Brest, against Strasbourg, against Auxerre. It is up to us to maintain our motivation, whatever our results and whatever our position in the table,” said Blanc at his pre-match press conference.

The former France and Paris Saint-Germain coach has overseen seven wins and five defeats in 16 league games, and Lyon are one place worse off in the table than when Blanc arrived in October. He nevertheless insisted he is happy on the banks of the Rhône.

“I feel really good here. I am happy. I adore my players and I hope they feel the same way about me,” he said. “We have adjusted things because it was difficult at the beginning. Whether things last or not all comes down to results. We let a lot of players go during the winter. We had difficulties to deal with but that is something you have to accept.”

Blanc’s Lyon have already beaten Lille twice this season, winning 1-0 in the reverse league fixture in late October thanks to a solitary Lacazette goal, and then triumphing on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the last 16 of the Coupe de France last month. Lyon had thrown away a two-goal lead in that game.

Lille unbeaten in 12 at home

Lille,  however, are a different prospect at home, where they are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions, winning nine, since a 2-1 defeat by OGC Nice at the end of August. That has helped keep Paulo Fonseca’s side in touch with the European places, and indeed they have lost just twice in 13 league outings since that loss in Lyon.

LOSC came from behind to draw 1-1 away to RC Lens in last weekend’s northern derby thanks to Jonathan David’s 18th goal in all competitions this season, but they also lost centre-back Tiago Djaló to a serious knee injury in that game.

Highlights: Lille come back to draw northern derby

“It is a big problem for the team and also for Tiago. Tiago was playing really well but now I think he needs to only think about recovering and I hope all goes well,” said Fonseca, who also has a doubt surrounding the fitness of José Fonte while Bafodé Diakité and Ismaily are sidelined. That means his defence is down the bare bones, but Adam Ounas is available again.

“I have confidence in all my players. We might play with Leny (Yoro) and with Alexsandro and also with Tim (Weah) and Gaby (Gudmundsson). These are the players who are ready,” Fonseca said of his defensive options.

“Lyon are a great team with lots of good players, with a good coach. I don’t look at the table. I look at the quality of the team and their players. I think it will be a difficult match but like in all matches we want to play well, dominate and win the game.”

Possible teams

Lille: Chevalier; Weah, Yoro, Alexsandro, Gudmundsson; André Gomes, André (c); Cabella, Angel Gomes, Bamba; David

Lyon: Riou; Diomandé, Lovren, Lukeba, Tagliafico; Caqueret, Tolisso, Lepenant; Cherki; Sarr, Lacazette (c)