On Wednesday night, Lille need to brush off their weekend hangover and get back to league duty at home to SCO Angers. The northern club lost the Coupe de la Ligue final 2-1 to Paris Saint-Germain and therefore haven’t secured a place in the Europa League for next season – they will now have to focus on their league quest.
PSG’s victory on Saturday handed the fifth place team a Europa League place and going into the game, Frederic Antonetti’s team are five points behind Saint-Etienne and level with Rennes. If PSG can also beat Olympique de Marseille in the Coupe de France final, sixth place would also qualify for Europe. Les Dogues can’t afford to slip up, but their opponents will be no pushover.
Angers have a similar set up to how Lille have been successful since Antonetti’s arrival. The are direct, physical and love to hit on the counter-attack. That will be Stephane Moulin’s game plan on Wednesday, relying on Lille controlling the game and hoping to steal something in transition.
Romain Saiss will play in the centre of defence beside Romain Thomas due to Ismael Traoré’s suspension. Moulin is also without Guy N’Gosso and Vincent Manceau. Gregory Bourillon will anchor the alongside Cheikh N’Doye and Thomas Mangani.
Mohamed Yattara, Billy Ketkeophomphone and Gilles Sunu will be required to add the goal threat, but their best chance will likely come from set-pieces.
Antonetti is still without Renato Civelli through suspension, and it is suggested that young Adama Soumaoro will drop to the bench – punishment for his key mistake in Paris – with Stoppilla Sunzu playing beside Marko Basa.
Apart from that, the only change that Lille could make is Florent Balmont coming in for Rio Mavuba in midfield.
Angers have the seventh best away record in the league and their style is perfectly suited to playing without the ball – they have won their last two games on the road, beating Bordeaux and Troyes. They start just three points behind Lille in the table – not only could they end Antonetti’s hopes of European football, but they could spark their own late resurgence.
Prediction: Lille 1-0 Angers