Lille will be hosting Lorient on Wednesday looking to extend their unbeaten run of form in Ligue 1 to nine matches when they continue their campaign at home.
The hosts are currently sitting 10th in the league, having collected 29 points from their opening 20 matches of the season, while Lorient are 18th, level on points with 17th-placed Troyes.
Lille had won their fourth title in Ligue 1 last season, but as it seems, it has been a disappointing defence for the club as things stand.
They have picked up seven wins, eight draws and five losses in their 20 Ligue 1 matches to collect 29 points, which has left them 21 points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
However, they are eight points behind third-placed Marseille, and will hope that they are capable of moving up the division in the coming weeks.
Les Dogues have now not lost in eight games in Ligue 1, including three victories from their last five matches, and they picked up a 1-1 draw with Marseille at the weekend.
Lille managed to win two of their last three Ligue 1 matches with Lorient, but they were defeated 2-1 when they travelled to face Lorient for the reverse match back in September.
Meanwhile, Lorient finished 16th in Ligue 1 last season, and they will enter this contest off the back of successive draws with PSG and Angers.
Lorient have not won in the league since defeating Nice on September 22, but have picked up draws on eight occasions this season.
With just two points separating Les Merlus from Metz in 15th, a couple of positive results could see them easily move out of the relegation zone.
However, they have the worst away record in the league this season, drawing four and losing six of their 10 matches.
Lille vs Lorient head to head
The two French outfits have previously met on 33 encounters in all competitions, where Lille have taken 17 victories while Lorient have won 9, and they have drawn in 7. Lille have scored 50 goals and conceded 28. In their last five meetings Lille have won two while Lorient have won three.
Lorient 1-0 Lille 17/09/16
Lille 0-1 Lorient 04/02/17
Lille 4-0 Lorient 22/11/20
Lorient 1-4 Lille 21/02/21
Lorient 2-1 Lille 10/09/21
Lille latest home form
Lille have recently been on a good run of form at home, having not lost in more than five matches. They defeated Salzburg 1-0 on November 23 in the Champions League. They also recently won 3-1 at home against Auxerre in the Coupe de France in their last home game.
Lille 1-0 Salzburg 23/11/21
Lille 1-1 Nantes 27/11/21
Lille 2-1 Troyes 04/12/21
Lille 0-0 Lyon 12/12/21
Lille 3-1 Auxerre 18/12/21
Lille latest away form
Despite recently losing to Lens through penalties after a 2-2 draw in the Coupe de France, Les Dogues have recently been on a relatively good form on the road. They have recorded three wins in their last five away matches, including a 3-1 victory over Wolfsburg in the Champions League.
Rennes 1-2 Lille 01/12/21
Wolfsburg 1-3 Lille 08/12/21
Bordeaux 2-3 Lille 22/12/21
Lens (P)2-2 Lille 04/01/22
Marseille 1-1 Lille 16/01/22
Lorient latest home form
Lorient have been on a poor run of form at home, but they recently seem to be on an upturn of form as they have not lost in their last two matches, drawing with PSG and Angers. In their last five matches at home, they have scored 2 goals and conceded 6.
Lorient 1-2 Brest 07/11/21
Lorient 0-2 Rennes 28/11/21
Lorient 0-1 Nantes 05/12/21
Lorient 1-1 PSG 22/12/21
Lorient 0-0 Angers 16/01/22
Lorient latest away form
Lorient have recently been on a poor run of form away from home, as they have lost in all their last six away matches. They lost their last away game 1-0 to Rennes in the Coupe de France. They have scored once and conceded 12 goals in their last five matches.
Strasbourg 4-0 Lorient 31/10/21
Angers 1-0 Lorient 21/11/21
Troyes 2-0 Lorient 01/12/21
Metz 4-1 Lorient 12/12/21
Rennes 1-0 Lorient 18/12/21
Lille news
Head coach Gourvennec is likely to retain majority of players who started at the weekend, with Gabriel Gudmundsson being an option for change.
Timothy Weah and Leo Jardim will miss out through injury, while Benjamin Andre will remain suspended with his red card he picked up against Marseille on Sunday.
Lorient news
Stephane Diarra, Fabien Lemoine, Samuel Loric and Jeremy Morel will be absent through injury, while Dango Ouattara is away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Lorient are likely to retain the same first XI lining up in a 5-3-2 formation as they did not pick up any fresh issues against Angers on Sunday.
Prediction and Odds
Lorient have struggled on their outings this season, and that could make them fall short in this game. Lille have recently been on an impressive form, and they have lost just one league game at home so far this season, and we see them take the victory on Tuesday evening.
Odds: 1 1.90 X 2.35 2 2.50
Probable outcomes
Lille 1-0 Lorient
Lille 2-0 Lorient
Lille 2-1 Lorient
Lille 3-2 Lorient
Lille 1-1 Lorient
