2020-21 Ligue 1 winners Lille take on fellow European qualification candidates Clermont under the lights of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday evening.

Paulo Fonseca's side sit in seventh position in the top flight of French football, while The Lancers are hot on their hosts' heels in eighth place.

Match preview

Lille begin the current round of Ligue 1 matches three points adrift of Rennes, who occupy the UEFA Europa Conference League qualification spot.

Fonseca's side have been victorious in 10 games throughout the current campaign, two more than their midweek visitors to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Possessing the fifth-most formidable home record across the current campaign after six victories from 10 matches, Les Dogues produced a ruthless five-star display in front of goal on January 15 as they easily overcame relegation-threatened Troyes. The hosts then advanced to the last 16 of the French Cup a week later with a 2-1 victory over lower-league opponents Pau.

However, Lille's ongoing momentum was brought back down to earth against Nice at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday, when Gaetan Laborde's 34th-minute strike proved enough for the hosts to secure a narrow 1-0 victory.

Owning the fifth-highest goalscoring tally - 35 - across the division, but on the other hand conceding the third-most goals - 26 - of the sides inside the top half of the Ligue 1 standings, supporters in attendance at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday could be in store to get their money's worth in goalscoring opportunities at both ends of the field.

Separated by only five points in the standings heading into the midweek round of matches, Clermont have looked like a more-improved outfit this campaign following their battle against relegation for the vast majority of last season.

Pascal Gastien's side are undefeated in their last four matches, registering three victories throughout that period, but have found the back of the net on the second-lowest number of occasions - 24 - out of the sides battling it out for a place in Europe next season.

Successful in their last two matches on the road, The Lancers additionally possess the sixth-best away record across the division after accumulating 15 points out of a possible 30 on offer.

Clermont emerged victorious, enhancing their impressive away record, with a 2-1 win over bottom side Angers at the Stade Raymond Kopa on January 15, but were held to a goalless draw by Nantes back in front of their own supporters on Sunday.

Team News

After failing to register a shot on target against Nantes, Clermont Foot manager Pascal Gastien could contemplate alternating his attacking options.

On the back of coming off the substitutes' bench at the weekend, Serbian forward Komnen Andric could now replace Grejohn Kyei for the midweek excursion to northern France.

Jim Allevinah, Saif-Eddine Khaoui, Yohann Magnin and Neto Borges began in a midfield quartet on Sunday and are again expected to reprise their respective roles at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Wednesday.

With only Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe scoring more goals than Lille striker Jonathan David across the current Ligue 1 campaign, the in-form Canadian striker will once more take his place alongside Remy Cabella and Timothy Weah behind lone striker Mohamed Bayo.

After keeping three clean sheets in their last six league matches, Les Dogues boss Paulo Fonseca could name the same back four, despite the defeat against Nice, with Bafode Diakite, Jose Fonte, Tiago Djalo and Ismaily commencing the contest in front of their own supporters.

Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Fonte, Djalo, Ismaily, Diakite; Yoro, Gomes; Weah, Cabella, David; Bayo

Clermont possible starting lineup:
Diaw; Seidu, Wieteska, Caufriez; Allenvinah, Khaoui, Magnin, Borges; Cham, Rashani, Andric

We say: Lille 2-2 Clermont

With Lille and Clermont meeting in only three previous historical head-to-head encounters, with the former emerging victorious in the reverse fixture on December 28 - 2-1 - we predict both sides will cancel each other out in a highly-entertaining contest at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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