Just two points separate Lille and Toulouse in the Ligue 1 table ahead of the weekend's fixtures, with the pair set to meet at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Saturday night.
It has been a stuttering start to the campaign for the 2020-21 champions Lile, whereas newbies Toulouse are enjoying life back in the top flight after earning promotion from Ligue 2 last season.
Match preview
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An eighth-placed finish from Lille last season as reigning Ligue 1 champions was considered to be a failure, with the side from the North having seemingly picked up from where they left off last time around.
Three wins from seven matches represent a difficult start, with just one other draw in that time meaning that Lille sit in 10th on 10 points.
Defeat to Marseille was expected last weekend, but still caused frustration in the Lille ranks, as they are still yet to win back-to-back league games this season.
Only three teams in the division have scored more goals than Lille so far this season, yet a wretched defensive record means that the hosts enter Saturday's clash having conceded 15 goals so far.
No side in the top half have conceded more goals than that, with this weekend's opponents Toulouse also having shipped fewer so far.
Back in the first tier, Toulouse currently reside in 11th position, with eight points to their name after seven matches.
A 1-0 victory over Stade Reims last time out meant that Toulouse finally ended a run of three victories in the league that had dented an otherwise unbeaten start.
It also marked their first clean sheet since the second weekend of the season, with Toulouse having conceded in five of their seven league matches up until now.
Unlikely to make that record any better this weekend, Toulouse have only kept one clean sheet against Lille since a 1-0 victory over them in December 2007.
Their overall head-to-head record does not make for much better reading either, as Toulouse boasts just two victories in their last 13 trips to Lille's home ground.
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Team News
A red card suspension will keep Tiago Djalo out of the weekend's clash, but the defender, who has played six times this season, will return next time out.
Muscle injuries make Edon Zhegrova and Remy Cabella's inclusion highly unlikely, but the duo are expected to be involved at the start of next month.
Similarly, Timothy Weah, a dynamic 22-year-old forward, is also out for Lille, as he recovers from a foot injury.
As for Toulouse, they are also nursing a number of injuries, one of those being Theocharis Tsingaras, who is missing due to a sprained ankle.
Rafael Ratao is out with a thigh injury for Toulouse, whereas an anterior cruciate ligament problem means that Rhys Healey will not return until late April for the visitors.
Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Diakite, Fonte, Ribeiro, Ismaily; Andre, Zedadka; Ounas, Gomes, Bamba; David
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Dupe; Desler, Rouault, Nicolaisen, Sylla; Spierings, van Den; Aboukhlal, Chaibi, Diarra; Dallinga
We say: Lille 1-1 Toulouse
Two sides with contrasting thoughts as to how their seasons have started, Toulouse will travel to Lille confident of snatching a result.
History suggests that it will be a challenge for the visitors, but given Lille's wretched form, do not bet against Toulouse snatching a point this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Amos Murphy
