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Ligue 1 Preview: Sochaux – Racing Club de Lens

Les Lionceaux meet les Sang et Or, with both sides hoping to put points on the board to improve their uncertain Ligue 1 standing...

Nov 6, 2009 12:00:50 PM

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Ligue 1 : Sochaux - Paris SG

Teams

Kick-Off: Saturday, November 7, 2009. 21:00 CET.
Stade Bonal, Montbeliard.

Les Lionceaux Starting To Purr

Eleven rounds into the Ligue 1 season, Sochaux have managed to split their tally between wins and defeats almost evenly. On Saturday evening they will face Lens at home with the intention of bringing their tally of victories to six, matching the number of losses they have sustained in the early part of the season.

One of only three teams yet to draw a game in Le Championnat this term – the others are Monaco and Grenoble – Sochaux have started to hit a little form since the beginning of October. Indeed, they have won three of their previous four league matches, though their one aberration in that run did come last weekend against Paris Saint-Germain, who comfortably defeated them 4-1 at home.

Francis Gillot’s side have otherwise recorded some pretty strong results, including victories over Olympique Lyonnais and Lorient over the course of the last month. Now Gillot will target three points against the side he coached for two-and-a-half seasons from January 2005.

Revenge will not be particularly high on the list of his priorities. Instead he will just look to guide his inexperienced Sochaux unit away from the drop zone. After seven rounds of fixtures they sat 18th, and in case they are to go on a similarly abject run later in the season, as always seems possible with a fledgling team, points must be put on the board early and confidence gained.

Blood Will Spill

Having won promotion back to Ligue 1 by virtue of becoming second flight champions last May, Jean-Guy Wallemme’s Lens side were firmly expected to be the best performing promoted club. With a whole raft of players boasting significant top flight experience and a passionate fan-base, it has been a rather disappointing season for the northern outfit to date.

Sitting 18th presently, if Ligue 1 was to end today, they would again find themselves in the clutches of lower league football - an uncomfortable position for a historically significant club. Indeed, Football365 summed the situation up neatly with the headline "Plus Sang Que Or" – "More Blood Than Gold" – a pun referring to the club’s nickname (les Sang et Or).

As one might expect in such circumstances, Wallemme’s position has tentatively come under threat. Though there has been dissent in the stands to some extent, the players have backed their coach, indicating that they must take some share of the blame for the team’s current slump.

Despite the vote of confidence from those on the pitch, it seems unlikely that Wallemme will still be in employment at Christmas if Lens struggle from now until the end of the month. Along with this fixture against Sochaux, they also face a home games against Nancy and Olympique de Marseille.

Goals have not been flowing freely, with Eduardo’s strike to level against Lorient in the 1-1 draw last weekend their first tally in four league encounters. With a winless run dating back to mid-August, when they defeated pointless Grenoble, the pressure is starting to build.

FORM

Sochaux

LOST 4-1 (h) Paris Saint-Germain (Ligue, Matchday 12, November 1)

WON 1-0 (h) Lorient (Ligue 1, Matchday 10, October 24)

WON 2-0 (a) Olympique Lyonnais (Ligue 1, Matchday 9, October 17)

WON 1-0 (h) Le Mans (Ligue 1, Matchday 8, October 3)

LOST 2-1 (a) Nancy (Ligue 1, Matchday 7, September 26)

Lens

DREW 1-1 (h) Lorient (Ligue, Matchday 12, October 31)

LOST 2-0 (h) Toulouse (Ligue 1, Matchday 10, October 25)

LOST 2-0 (a) Monaco (Ligue 1, Matchday 9, October 18)

LOST 2-0 (h) Olympique Lyonnais (Ligue 1, Matchday 8, October 3)

LOST 3-0 (a) Le Mans (Ligue 1, Matchday 7, September 27)

TEAM NEWS

Sochaux

Bad news for les Lionceaux in that vital centre-back Jeremie Brechet has failed to shake off the knock he sustained last weekend midway through the first half of the match against Paris Saint-Germain.

Charlie Davies is, of course, still recovering from his terrible car crash of last month. Loic Poujol and Carlao are the other injury concerns.

However, Nicolas Maurice-Belay returns to the fold and is likely to go straight into the starting XI.

Probable Starting XI: Richert; Faty, Josse, Perquis, Jokic; Maurice-Belay, Nogueira, Dalmat, Mikari; Martin; Sverkos

Lens

Gillot doesn’t have any great injury problems, though midfield lynchpin Nenad Kovacevic is doubtful. Samba Sow has been suffering from malaria and has targeted a return in this fixture. He seems unlikely to feature, though.

Eric Chelle missed the draw with Lorient due to a broken nose. He will expect to return to the starting XI at the expense of Romain Sartre.

Probable Starting XI: Runje; Demont, Chelle, Yahia, Ramos; Kovacevic, Hermach; Monnet-Paquet, Boukari, Roudet; Eduardo

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sochaux

He may be more recognised as a defender, but Yassin Mikari’s transformation over the last couple of weeks to a left-sided midfielder has been very effective. In fact, it is little coincidence that such a move has coincided with his side’s best form of the season to date. A dynamic and powerful runner, the Tunisian is a real attacking threat, boasting a propensity to send dangerous crosses into the box. When allowed, he also has a lethal shot from distance.

Lens

Scoring has obviously been Lens’ problem this season, with something of a drought taking place over the last couple of months. Kevin Monnet-Paquet may not be noted for his prolific strike-rate from the wing, but the 21-year-old is still a dangerous attacking prospect. Skilful with the ball at his feet, if the youngster can find the correct balance of flair and unselfishness, he will be a real handful to defend against. Against Lorient he made plenty of incisive runs, but he also tried to do too much on his own.

PREDICTION

With both sides toiling to score goals, it would be a surprise if this game developed into a classic. Sochaux are on better form than Lens, but their defence has been hit with a big blow due to the loss of Brechet. In addition, RCL looked pretty sharp last weekend. A draw seems about the right result in this game, though it will not particularly suit either outfit.

Sochaux 1-1 Racing Club de Lens

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

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