Champions in 1946, 1954 and 2011, LOSC have been hailed as "big favourites" by Rudi Garcia, the current Olympique Lyonnais boss and the man who led LOSC to the Ligue 1 - Coupe de France double in 2011. Garcia said: "Paris remain the team with the greatest potential but the standings today would indicate the big favourites are Lille."

Lille coach Christophe Galtier was having none of that in Tuesday's press conference before his team's 3-0 win at Bordeaux: "We're top of the table but we're not favourites. Lyon have a more favourable fixture list than us. I'm not going to linger on the table. It's very satisfying to be top and it's true that it's a great achievement. But all of that will count for nothing if we don't stay demanding of ourselves right until the end of the season. There are four teams who can currently hope to qualify for Europe. We need to insist on the micro details that make the difference at the highest level."

WATCH: Mike Maignan's world-class stop in Bordeaux

PROS

Lille are remarkably consistent - they have won their last five league games - and have a squad with depth in every position.

They are a team that knows how to pick up points even when they don't play that well. Galtier's team have only lost two games all season, the joint-lowest total with LOSC and have conceded only 15 goals. Only PSG (14) can better that defensive record, and as goalkeeper Mike Maignan showed at Bordeaux, when opponents do break through, Lille's last line of defence is as solid as any in the division.

LOSC are top of the table at this stage of the season for the first time since 2010-2011, when they went on to become champions.

Lille have shared the goals around with Burak Yilmaz (9), Yusuf Yazici (7), Jonathan Bamba (6), and Jonathan David (5) becoming increasingly useful. Jonathan Ikoné (3), Luiz Araujo (3) and Timothy Weah (3) all possess a goal threat as well.

CONS

The one player LOSC cannot afford to lose to injury is José Fonte, their defensive organiser and captain. Dutchman Sven Botman has been brilliant alongside the 37-year-old Portuguese but it would be a major ask for the 21-year-old Botman to take on all the defensive responsibility.

LOSC have a tough fixture list between now and the end of the season with trips to Monaco, PSG and Lyon to come between now and the end of April.

It doesn't only depend on LOSC's form. Lyon are playing with confidence, PSG must surely find some consistency, and Monaco could yet force their way into the title race if they maintain their spectacular form.

CONCLUSION

Lille most definitely can win the title but Galtier is right to be cautious. We'll have a much better idea of LOSC's prospects come the end of Round 34 after they have faced OL.