Ligue 1: Lille OSC vs. Toulouse FC – Week 23 Preview
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lille-OSC-c39800
Lille has emerged as a team that is desperately seeking to win the Ligue 1 crown. Even the most optimistic of Lille fans were not expecting their team to claim the top position in the league table.
It looks like Lille’s dream to become French Champions is turning into reality after an agonizing wait of almost six decades.
Les Dogues cannot afford a slipup now and will look to emerge victorious against the eighth placed side in the league table, Toulouse FC, as they are en route to achieve the French Crown.
The French league reigning champions, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127, after winning their match are three points away from the league leaders and threatening LOSC. The match against TFC is going to be the most crucial match for Les Dogues, as it will set the course
for Lille’s remaining season.
Lille have acquired 42 points from their 22 matches. Team manager, Rudi Garcia, has praised his side’s tremendous run so far. Les Dogues have an overall record of 22 played, 11 won, 9 drawn, and 2 lost.
LOSC shot-stopper, Mickael Landreau, will make his 500th Ligue 1 appearance against Toulouse. Landreau said:
“The most important thing is to get the win. To be on top of the table, after all these years, is something fantastic.
I must say that, for my 500th, I'm very happy to play it at home rather than on the road. I've always had a good relationship with the LOSC fans and it has been at this club that I've found everything I was looking for”.
Toulouse FC
Le Tef started the season with a hope that they can finish in the top ten Ligue 1 teams. TFC are never considered as a top French outfit. After a difficult season last year when the club managed to remain in the league, not much was expected from the team.
However, Les Pitchouns have unexpectedly achieved a respectable eighth place in the league table this season.
TFC have acquired 33 points from their 22 matches, trailing league leaders Lille by nine points. With 16 matches left to play in the season, Les Pitchouns can certainly improve their record in the league table.
Toulouse have an overall record of 22 played, 10 won, 3 drawn, and 9 lost.
Team manager, Alain Cassanova, is more than pleased with his side’s current standings in the league table. Cassanova will be hoping that his side’s good run this season continues, as he is seeking a spot in the UEFA Champions League.
Team news
Lille OSC
Manager is still unsure about his defender, Da Conceicao http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Emerson-c12442, whether he will be available to play in the match or not.
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Toulouse-FC-c40751
Mohamed Fofana, Jean-Noel Perrier Doumbe, Xavier Pentecote and Yohann http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pele-c40189 are all sidelined due to injuries.
Players to watch
Ligue 1 top goal scorer, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Moussa-Sow-c26939, is in supreme form this season and is the key player for Lille. It will take something special from TFC defenders to prevent the prolific striker from scoring a goal.
Toulouse shot-stopper, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Mathieu-Valverde-c24691, will have to prevent the home side from finding the net if he wants his side to bag a point.
Prediction
Lille are desperate to win the Ligue 1 title and will be looking to win the game. They have only lost once while playing in front of their home crowd. It looks like Lille will emerge victorious and thrash the visitors 3 – 1.
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