Lillevs.Nice

Lille have guaranteed their place in the top four, but will still be battling to secure automatic qualification to the Champions League, while Nice have ensured their place in next year's Europa League.

Match preview

After winning Ligue 1 in 2020-21 Lille had failed to qualify for the Champions League in either of the following two campaigns, finishing in 10th and 5th respectively.

Paulo Fonseca's side have finally ended that run this time around having already secured their place in the top four, but they will still be looking to finish the season in third place and qualify automatically for next season's competition.

Stade Brest's recent poor run has seen them fall behind Lille on goal difference heading into the final day, leaving their last fixtures of the season as highly intriguing ties.

A victory against Nice will be of paramount importance to the hosts with Brest facing 11th-placed Toulouse, while even a win may not be enough if Brest's result sees a swing of a two-goal difference in their favour.

Fonseca's men have been at their best when playing at home this term, picking up the joint-highest points of any side in the division and only falling to defeat on two occasions.

Nice, however, have also enjoyed their time on the road, amassing 23 points from 16 away matches and are unbeaten in their last four games away from home coming into this one.

Francesco Farioli's side do have nothing left to play for in the final game though, having already secured their place in next term's Europa League with a fifth-place finish guaranteed as they equally trail and lead the teams around them by four points.

After starting the season in such incredible fashion, going undefeated in their opening 13 league matches and sitting in second place on matchday 21, Nice will be disappointed with how their campaign has come to a close.

Just one win in nine Ligue 1 outings through February, March and the beginning of April saw Farioli's men slide down the table and into sixth on matchday 25, but three wins and a draw in the following five has seen them recover into fifth.

Despite that disappointment next campaign will be the first time they have competed in Europe's second-tier tournament since they crashed out at the bottom of Group C in 2020-21.

Nice have been the better side in this fixture in recent years, winning two of the last three and avoiding defeat at Lille's home ground since a 2-0 defeat two years ago.

Lille Ligue 1 form:

W

W

L

W

L

W

Lille form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

L

W

Nice Ligue 1 form:

D

W

D

W

W

L

Team News

The hosts will be unable to call upon up to six players for this potentially crucial match against Nice.

Lucas Chevalier was forced off with an injury at the end of the win over Nantes in their previous outing, and is ruled out of this one.

Samuel Umtiti, Rafael Fernandes, Ignacio Miramon and Adam Ounas are all also ruled out, while Yusuf Yazici remains as a doubt.

Benjamin Andre and Andrej Ilic could make their return to the starting 11 having made their comebacks from injury.

The visitors are potentially set to be without five of their own in this one.

Sofiane Diop, Alexis Beka Beka, Valentin Rosier and Antoine Mendy are all expected to be unavailable with injuries.

Melvin Bard will also miss out after being sent off in the 75th minute of their match with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday.

Lille possible starting lineup:

Mannone; Santos, Yoro, Diakite, Ismaily; Andre, Bentaleb; Zhegrova, Gomes, Cabella; David

Nice possible starting lineup:

Bulka; Lotomba, Todibo, Dante, Perraud; Sanson, Rosario, Thuram; Cho, Moffi, Boga

We say: Lille 2-1 Nice

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