L’Équipe reports that Adi Hütter is set to make one change from the team that beat Metz 2-1 last time out in Ligue 1, thanks to an inspired brace from Alexsandr Golovin. The Russian attacking midfielder is set to keep his place after his impressive display against the newly promoted side. 

The one change that Hütter is expected to make should see Monaco form a back three with Denis Zakaria returning as an unorthodox centre-back and former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun dropping to the bench in his place. The rest of the team who beat Metz should all keep their starting berths. 

Monaco likely XI vs Lille:

Philipp Köhn – Wilfried Singo, Denis Zakaria, Christian Matsima – Krepin Diatta, Mohamed Camara, Youssouf Fofana, Ismail Jakobs – Alexsandr Golovin, Wissam Ben Yedder, Takumi Minamino

GFFN | Liam Wraith

L’Équipe reports that Paulo Fonseca is set to make 5 changes from LOSC’s 2-1 success in Europe. The Portuguese head coach is expected to make three changes in defence with only Bafodé Diakité keeping his place. Ismaily, Alexsandro and Lenny Yoro should all return to the starting eleven in replace of Samuel Umtiti, Tiago Santos and Gabriel Gudmundsson.

Angel Gomes is expected to drop to the bench and be replaced by Nabil Bentaleb in midfield. Yusuf Yazıcı and Rémy Cabella should keep their places in attacking midfield and on the wing following finding the scoresheet in midweek. However, Edon Zhegrova should replace Adam Ounas in the starting lineup. Jonathan David will lead the line. 

Lille likely XI to face Monaco: 

Lucas Chevalier – Bafodé Diakité, Lenny Yoro, Alexsandro, Ismaily – Benjamin André, Nabil Bentaleb – Edon Zhegrova, Yusuf Yazıcı, Rémy Cabella – Jonathan David

GFFN | Liam Wraith

L’Équipe reports that Paulo Fonseca could be set to change the formation from the 4-2-3-1, which saw his team pick up a point in the derby, to a 4-4-2. This formation change would see Rémy Cabella join Jonathan David in an unorthodox front pairing. 

Ivan Cavaleiro and Edon Zhegrova should still keep their places on the flanks of a midfield four. In midfield, Nabil Bentaleb is set for a return with former Manchester United midfielder Angel Gomes set to miss out due to suspension. The Algerian should partner club captain Benjamin André in the centre midfield. Despite a change in formation, Fonseca is set to deploy the same back four which secured LOSC a point against Lens. 

Lille likely XI vs Brest:

Lucas Chevalier – Bafodé Diakité, Lenny Yoro, Alexsandro Ribeiro, Ismaily – Edon Zhegrova, Benjamin André, Nabil Bentaleb, Ivan Cavaleiro – Rémy Cabella, Jonathan David

GFFN | Liam Wraith

“I struggle to understand this decision. We must also consider the sport of football. It’s not just about Lille’s stadium; it’s about the quality of the game. The condition of the pitch is catastrophic, and it’s impossible to witness a good match with such a subpar playing surface.”

The recent stint of the French national football team playing on the already- deteriorated pitch at the Pierre-Mauroy, coupled with critical comments from national coach Didier Deschamps, has failed to sway the local authorities in Lille. They have declared their intention to retain the current playing surface, regardless of the damage inflicted by the five Rugby World Cup matches held at the venue.

GFFN | George Boxall

Whilst France play many of their home matches at the Stade de France, Les Bleus will take on Scotland at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille on Tuesday night. The stadium, like many in France, has also been used during he ongoing Rugby World Cup, hosting five matches in total. 

The tournament has had an impact on the pitch, and that hasn’t gone unseen. Captain Kylian Mbappé (24) was seen grimacing when he saw the condition of the pitch earlier this week. Speaking in a pre-match press conference, transcribed by Get French Football News, Deschamps was also critical of the state of the surface. 

“It’s magnificent!” responded Deschamps sarcastically. He added, “Even if the gardeners do their best, we can’t say we have a very good pitch. It is a pitch that has suffered.”

The pitch of the Stade Peirre-Mauroy isn’t the only one to be damaged by the ongoing rugby tournament. OGC Nice’s pitch came in for heavy criticism from manager Francesco Farioli, however, the pitch has now been completely relaid ahead of this weekend’s match against Olympique de Marseille. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Hazard joined Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer of 2019 for €89m after a hugely successful spell at Chelsea, where he won the Premier League and Europa League. However, he has been dogged by injuries since arriving in the Spanish capital, featuring in just 54 La Liga games, and only six in the 2022/23 season. Despite his lack of game time for Real Madrid, he still won two La Liga titles and a Champions League with the club. He also went on to represent the Belgian national team on 126 occasions.

Hazard began his career at Lille. Having come through the ranks with Les Dogues, he went on to make 194 appearances, scoring 50 goals and registering 53 assists. The Ligue 1 club have now paid tribute to Hazard, saying that “his prowess will live forever in our memories.”

Lille added, “A prodigy whose face is engraved in the entrance to the Domaine de Luchin, the greatest talent trained at LOSC.” 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Round 8, 08/10/2023

RC Lens and Lille OSC saw out a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s Derby du Nord at the Stade Bollaert. The point temporarily lifts Lille to seventh ahead of Rennes’ match against PSG later on Sunday night. 

Lens were looking to finish their week on another high note, following victories over Strasbourg and then Arsenal in the Champions League. They started with intent, pressing Lille high and preventing Paulo Fonseca’s side from getting a foothold in the game. Wesley Saïd and Florian Sotoca both went close for Franck Haise’s side, but Lucas Chevalier rested in the Europa Conference League in midweek, made the crucial saves. 

Lille, thanks to the press resistance of Angel Gomes and Benjamin André, began to grow into the game and they got the opener just before half-time thanks to Benjamin André, who headed into an empty net after Brice Samba had tried, and failed to cut out Edon Zhegrova’s cross. 

Just like the first half, the second half was devoid of many clear-cut chances. One of the best fell to Salis Abdul Samed in the 47th minute, but he couldn’t deflect a deflected cross on target from around seven yards out. Lens did get their equaliser not long later. Deiver Machado, with his first touch since coming off the bench, latched onto Przemyslaw Frankowski’s pin-point cross, beating Chevalier with a diving header. 

Neither side overly committed to secure the three points, but a huge chance fell to Adrien Thomasson in the final minute of stoppage time, but the Frenchman, who netted against Arsenal in midweek, could only place his shot wide. It ended honours even, and after a difficult start to the season, they are unbeaten in their last three Ligue 1 matches. 

Lens player ratings

Brice Samba – 4 – at fault for Lille’s goal and generally less convincing and assertive than usual.

Facundo Medina – 5

Kevin Danso – 5

Abdukodir Khusanov – 6 – the young Uzbeki centre-back, making just his second start for Lens following his summer move from the Belarussian top-flight, kept David very quiet, especially in the opening stages. 

Przemyslaw Frankowski – 5

Andy Diouf – 6

Salis Abdul Samed – 5

Ruben Aguilar – 4

Angelo Fulgini – 6

Florian Sotoca – 6 – Couldn’t get on the scoresheet, but so important to the way in which this Lens side functions. Sotoca’s pressing, alongside Angelo Fulgini, was the major reason why Lens had so much possession in the early stages, even if Les Sang et Or’s control didn’t manifest itself on the scoreline. 

Wesley Saïd -4

Lille player ratings

Lucas Chevalier – 6

Ismaily – 5

Alexsandro – 7

Lény Yoro – 6

Bafodé Diakité – 5

Angel Gomes – 7 – a composed performance from Gomes in his now familiar position in the Lille double pivot. His side were under the cosh early on, but his press resistance and ability to progress the ball helped Les Dogues play through the thirds and gain a foothold in the game. 

Benjamin André – 7

Ivan Cavaleiro – 5

Rémy Cabella – 6

Edon Zhegrova – 7 – at the heart of Lille’s creative efforts. His cross created the opener, whilst he went on to register a further three key passes, and run Lens’ defenders ragged. 

Jonathan David – 3 – once again uninvolved. He was rested in the Europa Conference League this week in order for him to be in peak physical form in the Derby du Nord. However, he is clearly lacking in confidence currently and is struggling to work himself into games. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Apart from Tiago Djalo, who is a long-term absentee, Fonseca has a full roster to pick from on Sunday. Umtiti will return to the squad. The 2018 World Cup winner was hospitalised with concussion a fortnight ago after a clash in a defeat against Stade de Reims. He then missed Lille’s victory over Le Havre at the weekend but will return on Sunday. Meanwhile, Ounas who has recovered from a thigh injury, and Bentaleb, who has recovered from a calf injury, will both be included in Fonseca’s matchday squad. 

Fonseca said that none of the aforementioned players are ready to play 90 minutes against Lens. “But it is important to have them in the group,” said the Portuguese manager in a press conference, transcribed by L’Équipe. He will be hoping that his players will be fresh for the match after he heavily rotated his side during Les Dogues’ 0-0 draw against Faroe Islands side Klaksvik in the UEFA Europa Conference League in midweek. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

On Tuesday, Stade Bollaert hosted one of the greatest nights in the club’s history, as Franck Haise’s side overcame a 1-0 deficit to beat Arsenal 2-1 in the first European night at the stadium in 20 years. Lille visit the stadium on Sunday (17:05 local time) in the Derby du Nord, however, just two days before the game, the pitch has been damaged. 

As reported by RMC Sport, individuals have thrown acid onto four parts of the pitch, whilst anti-Lens stickers have been stuck on the club’s crest and at the ticket office. Lens have filed a complaint and video evidence is currently being analysed, whilst tests are also going to ascertain the nature of the solution thrown onto the pitch. The match between Lens and Lille is not under threat, and the groundsmen are already at work to get everything back in order. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Lille have been put at a disadvantage by the scheduling. Lens faced Arsenal on Tuesday, and therefore have two extra days of rest, recovery and preparation, however, Les Dogues face a trip to the Faroe Islands on Thursday before Sunday’s game. It is no surprise that that game is already on Paulo Fonseca’s mind, and he is therefore looking to keep some of his star players fresh. 

David has yet to find his feet this season, but there is no doubt that he is the most explosive player in this Lille side, and on his day, he has the capacity to decide games all on his own. France U21 international Chevalier is also set to be rested, with Vito Mannone set to make his debut for the club. 

Lille likely lineup v KI Klaksvik 

Vito Mannone; Gabriel Gudmundsson, Alexsandro, Lény Yoro, Akim Zedadka; Ayyoub Bouaddi, Benjamin André; Alan Virginius, Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, Yusuf Yazici; Amine Messoussa. (L’Éq)

GFFN | Luke Entwistle