Bordeaux host Lorient in Ligue 1 on Saturday night as the visitors aim to climb out of the bottom two.
A 5-2 thrashing at the hands of Monaco in midweek saw Christophe Pelissier's men slump to their 12th loss of the campaign, while Les Girondins were held to a 0-0 draw at Metz.
Match preview
Six-time French champions Bordeaux have endured a difficult season so far, picking up just 23 points at the halfway stage.
One win in their last five games has seen the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux outfit lose touch with the pack chasing European qualification and fall into mid-table obscurity.
Although their defensive record has been impressive throughout 2020-21, with just 20 goals conceded meaning they have the second-best defence in the bottom half of the division, scoring has been somewhat trickier.
Their 18 efforts make them one of the lowest scorers in the top flight and is something Jean-Louis Gasset may look to fix in the January transfer market.
The likes of Josh Maja and former Newcastle fan-favourite Hatem Ben Arfa are the main creative forces for Bordeaux, and Gasset will be looking at improvements from them if his side are to record an important victory.
Lorient are facing an immediate return to Ligue 2 unless they can transform their fortunes, with one victory in their last 11 Ligue 1 matches leaving them in 19th position.
Defensively Pelissier's side have been awful all season; they have conceded 12 goals in their last four outings to take their season total to 36, the second-highest amount in Ligue 1.
Les Merlus were actually level with Monaco last time out until Jonathan Delaplace's untimely red card opened the floodgates.
If Lorient are to climb the table and make an unlikely escape from relegation, then they will need all 11 players on the pitch.
Bordeaux Ligue 1 form: WLLWLD
Lorient Ligue 1 form: LWLLDL
Team News
Bordeaux trio Nicolas De Preville, Samuel Kalu and former Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny all made their comebacks from injury against Metz and could feature from the first whistle on Saturday.
Gasset has a fully fit squad to choose from and will likely go with his strongest side in what he will see as a very winnable fixture.
Lorient's Andreaw Gravillon scored on his return to the team following a two-match suspension and will keep his place in the heart of the defence.
Full-back Delaplace will be unavailable, however, following his dismissal on Tuesday.
Bordeaux possible starting lineup:
Costil; Sabaly, Baysse, Koscielny, Benito; Basic, Adli; Zerkane, Ben Arfa, Oudin; Maja
Lorient possible starting lineup:
Nardi; Le Goff, Morel, Laporte, Hergault; Lemoine; Boisgard, Abergel, Monconduit, Lauriente; Moffi
We say: Bordeaux 2-0 Lorient
Although Bordeaux are yet to hit their stride this season, they should have too much quality for this struggling Lorient outfit. A narrow victory for the side from the south of France is the most likely outcome.
Top betting tip
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