French Ligue 1 preview: AS Saint-Etienne VS LOSC Lille Metropole
A vibrant Stade Geoffroy-Guichard will see AS Saint-Etienne host reigning Ligue 1 champions LOSC Lille in a Ligue 1 encounter on September 10, 2011.
AS Saint-Etienne have started the 2011/2012 campaign with two wins, one draw and a defeat and lie in eighth place. Lille on the other hand, know that they have to improve a lot if they are to give themselves any chance of recording back-to-back Ligue 1 triumphs.
The grass is definitely greener
Though Saint-Etienne are lying in eighth place in the Ligue 1 standings, they are just two points behind league leaders Montpellier. Christophe Galtier’s men slumped to their first loss of the season when they lost 2-1 at Sochaux thanks to an inspired performance
by Algerian international http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ryad-Boudebouz-c31970 who was on song for Les Lionceaux.
Christopher Galtier brought in 11 new players in the summer transfer window and is hopeful that the new players will settle in quickly to the new environment. Summer signings Jeremy Clement, Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have definitely
shown signs of adapting to their new conditions and the trio’s form would be key to Saint-Etienne’s chances of finishing the campaign in a good position.
Traditionally slow starters
Les Dogues are currently in seventh place with seven points and after a 3-2 win over http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127, Rudi Garcia would be expecting positive results and performances from his charges.
This is the first time both teams will step into the field following the international break in which both clubs’ players played for their respective countries.
Return of Payet
The game between Lille and ASSE would represent the first time France international http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Dimitri-Payet-c11276 returns to the stadium where he played for four seasons before joining Lille this summer. Payet was one of Lille’s biggest signings this summer and can expect
a warm welcome at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as he returns to play against his former teammates.
Last season, Payet was arguably the best player in Les Verts’ side as he scored 13 goals to become the topscorer for Saint-Etienne in the 2010/2011 campaign.
An Englishman in the front
Another big signing made by Les Dogues was of England international Joe Cole. The 29-year-old joined Lille in the final hours of the transfer window on loan from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Joe-Cole-c18694 would be looking
to get some game time in a volatile atmosphere.
If he makes his debut against Les Verts, Cole will become the first English international to play in the Ligue 1 in over two decades. However, it still remains to be seen whether Rudi Garcia will take his chance on Cole and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ireneusz-Jelen-c17008 or not.
Team news
Saint-Etienne
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Sylvain-Marchal-c34431 will not feature in the home game against the
champions. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Fabien-Lemoine-c13141 is also available for selection before he serves a one-game ban in which he’ll miss Les Verts’ next week’s Ligue 1 encounter against Lorient.
Team captain Loic Perrin ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee against Bordeaux and is out for six months. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alejandro-Alonso-c4386 also suffered the same injury in pre-season and will not be back before the new year. Sinama-Pongolle will not
feature for seven weeks due to a thigh injury.
Lille
Rudi Garcia does not have to worry about any suspension for now. However, the French tactician will not be able to field Brazilian striker Tulio De Melo. Montenegrin, Marko Basa is also a major doubt while new-boys Cole and Jelen might be considered if the
duo passes a fitness test.
Prediction
With Lille finally showing the form that made them champions last season, it seems that Galtier’s man will have a hard time in containing the versatile side from the North of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 that has some of the most talented players in the league.
Predicted final score: Saint-Etienne 1-2 Lille
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