Having salvaged one point from Evian to remain on course to Champions League qualification, Lille could make a giant step towards a top 3 finish by defeating injury-hit Lyon.

Meanwhile, les Gones would revive their Champions League bid with a victory at Grand Stade Lille Metropole, which is enough to suggest we should see a very interesting match on Sunday evening.

Many believed Lille would not be able to remain near the top of the Ligue 1 standings following the departure of long-serving coach Rudi Garcia, but les Gones quickly managed to prove the doubters wrong.

Led by experienced tactician Rene Girard, the Northerners impressed in the opening exchanges and were up until recently very close to leaders PSG.

Lille may have dropped out from the title race since, but they remain in pole position for the final Champions League berth despite suffering several slip-ups of late.

Les Dogues ended a five-match winless run in the league as they enjoyed a comfortable triumph over relegation-threatened Sochaux before twice coming from behind to earn one point at Evian.

However, with their next opponents in all sorts of problems at the moment, Lille have been made 2.15 (23/20) favourites to win the high-profile match.

Key defender Marko Basa is doubtful with an ankle problem, but Djibril Sidibe and Papa Souare have both resumed full training. Franck Beria and Marvin Martin remain sidelined.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Enyeama – Sidibe, Kjaer, Basa, Souare – Balmont, Mavuba, Gueye – Kalou, Roux, Origi.

This season did not have the best of start for Lyon as they failed to reach the Champions League group stages, while struggling to prove their worth in French Ligue 1.

And with the likes of Gomis and Briand dropped from the squad, the atmosphere at the club was at an all time low.

Nevertheless, just as everyone expected les Gones to crumble they started showing massive improvement and it looks they can still turn this season into a success.

Last week’s Coupe de France defeat to Lens came at a bad time, but the team delivered perfect response, beating Ajaccio in the league before earning a goalless draw at Chernomorets in the first leg of the Europa League Last 32 stage clash.

Given that Lyon have won four of last seven matches on the road in Ligue 1, odds of 4.00 (3/1) offered on away win need to be considered.

Boss Remi Garde, however, faces serious selection problems given that Milan Bisevac starts a two-match ban, whilst Yacine Benzia and Mouhamadou Dabo are out injured.

On top of that, he faces an anxious wait over the fitness of Yoann Gourcuff, Clement Grenier, Alexandre Lacazette and Miguel Lopes.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): A. Lopes – M. Lopes, Kone, Umtiti, Bedimo – Ferri, Gonalons, Fofana, Grenier – Gomis, Briand.