Clinging onto the fifth and final European spot in the Ligue 1 table, Lille will attempt to get back on track when they host basement battlers Ajaccio at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Saturday afternoon.

Les Dogues were pegged back in a 1-1 draw with Auxerre last time out, while their visitors did little to boost their fleeting survival hopes in a 0-0 draw with Brest.

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From the villain at one end of the field to the hero at the other, it was a tale of two penalties for Auxerre striker M'Baye Niang last weekend, as his handball firstly allowed Jonathan David to coolly chip home his 21st goal of the season to put Lille in the ascendancy.

However, after an inexplicable challenge from Remy Cabella on Youssouf M'Changama, Niang rectified his earlier mistake to convert from 12 yards and deny Lille the chance to inch ever closer to Monaco in fourth place, but results elsewhere also went in Paulo Fonseca's favour last weekend.

Thanks to Montpellier HSC's triumph over Rennes, Les Dogues remain three points clear of Les Rouges et Noir in the Europa Conference League qualification berth, but their recent form in the top flight has been indifferent to say the least.

Amid links with a possible switch to a Premier League dugout, Fonseca has overseen three wins, three draws and a defeat from his side's last seven Ligue 1 fixtures, during which time his side have failed to keep a single clean sheet, but home is where the heart is for Lille.

Indeed, Les Dogues have gone unbeaten in each of their last 13 top-flight fixtures at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy since being beaten 2-1 by Nice on August 31, while the David-inspired Dogues have also scored at least twice in each of their last five on home soil.

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Neither set of supporters got their money's worth when Ajaccio and Brest shook hands on a point in a dull goalless stalemate at the Stade Francois-Coty last weekend, although Olivier Pantaloni's side would have been more pleased with the scoreline come the final whistle.

L'ours were forced to see out the final 25 minutes with 10 men after Yoann Touzghar was given a straight red card just four minutes after coming off the bench, and despite having fewer shots and just 43% possession on the day, Ajaccio could afford to pat themselves on the back.

However, pats on the back do not put points on the board, and 19th-placed Ajaccio are only above an Angers side who are very nearly consigned to their fate, while they have a 10-point gap to make up to Nantes in the safety of 16th place with six games left to go.

It is mission improbable rather than mission impossible for Pantaloni's side, but it is seemingly only a matter of time before their swift demotion back to Ligue 2 is confirmed, having only managed a league-low 22 goals at the correct end of the field this term.

The visitors' draw with Brest did at least end a six-game losing run in the top flight, but attempting to end a five-game losing streak on the road will be a tall order against Lille, who made it eight wins in a row against Ajaccio with a 3-1 success away from home towards the end of August.

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Already without Tiago Djalo (ACL) and Adam Ounas (thigh), Fonseca was also forced into withdrawing Angel Gomes late on against Auxerre after the ex-Manchester United starlet appeared to injury himself while taking a shot on goal.

Gomes is not thought to have sustained any serious damage and could prove his fitness for Saturday's game, and Fonseca will welcome midfield fulcrum Benjamin Andre back from a ban, no doubt reintroducing the Frenchman into the XI straight away.

Andre's return could push Angel Gomes further forward in place of Edon Zhegrova, while Ismaily and Bafode Diakite are poised to keep Gabriel Gudmundsson and Timothy Weah at bay in the full-back roles again.

While Lille will welcome a player back from suspension, Ajaccio striker Touzghar will begin a three-match ban this weekend following his sending off against Brest, but he was never likely to start this one anyway.

Pantaloni has also been handed a fresh concern with winger Mickael Barreto, who was taken off after just 17 minutes last weekend due to an unspecified injury, which has opened the door for Cyrille Bayala or Kevin Spadanuda to stake their claims for a start.

The visiting manager should otherwise see no reason to alter his recognisable 4-4-2 setup, as veteran attacker Romain Hamouma links up with Mounaim El Idrissy in the final third.

Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Diakite, Fonte, Alexsandro, Ismaily; Andre Gomes, Andre; Angel Gomes, Cabella, Bamba; David

Ajaccio possible starting lineup:
Leroy; Diallo, Vidal, Gonzalez, Kone; Bayala, Marchetti, Mangani, Belaili; Hamouma, El Idrissy

We say: Lille 3-0 Ajaccio

Ajaccio may have held their own with 10 men against a shot-shy Brest, but a Lille side out to right the wrongs of last weekend should encounter few roadblocks en route to a dominant win.

With Golden Boot chaser David spearheading Lille's prolific period of home form, we can only picture Fonseca's men remaining in control of their continental destiny, with a few goals along the way.


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Written by
Ben Knapton

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