Lille OSC vs Caen: French Ligue 1 – Preview
With just ten games remaining in the season, French Ligue 1 leaders Lille OSC will host Caen on Saturday the 2nd of April, at Stadium Lille Metropole. A win for the hosts would help them stretch their lead at the top of the table. A visitor’s win could get them in to the top half of the table.
Lille OSC
Rudi Garcia’s side are currently leading the Ligue 1 flight with fifty five points and are four points clear of the second placed Olympique Marseille. A win at home could ease the pressure on the Les Dogues once their lead is stretched at the top. The leaders have fifteen wins in the League so far and have lost just thrice. They have also been the top scoring side with forty nine goals in the League. In their last five games, Lille have registered three wins while the other two games ended in a draw.
Caen
Patrice Garande’s side have been very inconsistent this season and find themselves in the thirteenth place with thirty five points. They are level on points with Stade Brest and FC Sochaux and have managed just nine wins in the League so far, losing eleven times. Caen have scored thirty one times so far this season as compared to the thirty eight times they have conceded. In their last five games, Caen have registered two wins and two draws. One of their games against AS Nancy ended in a loss.
Team News
Lille OSC
The home team are expected to go in with a 5-4-1 formation. The Senegalese Moussa Sow would play the lone striker’s role. David Rozehnal and Aurelien Chedjou are certain to start in the central defence. Mickael Landreau will be guarding the net for Les Dogues.
Caen
The visitor’s are set to follow the same 5-4-1 formation. Ivorian Kandia Traore would start upfront as a lone striker. Youssef El-Arabi and Yohan Mollo, who is on-loan from Monaco would provide support on the flanks. Thomas Bosmel is certain to start in goal for the visitors.
Players to Watch
Lille would pin a lot of their hopes on their Senegalese striker Moussa Sow, who is currently the leading goal scorer in Ligue 1 with 19 goals from 28 appearances. If the Senegal international could add more to his tally on Saturday, Lille could find themselves in a more comfortable position.
The visitors on the other hand would rely heavily upon their Moroccan international El-Arabi, who has 10 League goals under his belt so far this season from 16 appearances. He also has made two assists and is currently the second-leading goal scorer in Ligue 1 behind Moussa Sow. If the visitor’s are to win, the Moroccan will have to be on his toes right from the word go.
Prediction
Lille, playing on their home strip are very likely to win and stretch their lead at the top of the table. Caen’s away form has also not been great and taking that into account, Lille OSC could turn out to be easy 2-0 winners on Saturday.
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