Olympique Lyon have looked a different side ever since the appointment of Rudi Garcia.
Since Garcia took over from Sylvinho, Lyon have won four of their past five league games and are steadily climbing up the Ligue one standings.
Garcia’s effect is evident on the eye and under the Frenchman, striker Moussa Dembele looks to have been reborn too.
Dembele who had constant clashes with Sylvinho is now a regular and back to banging in the goals like he is known for.
In his last five Ligue One games, he has scored four goals and the only exception being the victory this past weekend.
The entire squad looks to be breathing a fresh lease of life under Garcia and are once again enjoying their football.
This past weekend, Lyon came from a goal down to defeat Strasbourg with Maxwell Cornet and former Arsenal academy graduate Jeff Reine-Adelaide on target. It was Adelaide’s second goal in as many and the attacking midfielder looks set to tie down a starting role under Garcia, something which was not the case with Sylvinho in charge.
Lyon will start the day-Tuesday in 7th with 22 points and if results go their way, they could end up third on the standings, three points behind second-placed Marseille.
However, it will not be easy against a Lille side that is struggling to replicate their last season’s form.
Lille were the darlings of French football last season as they finished second but as expected, they sold several of their key players and hence the struggles this season.
They currently occupy 8th spot on the standings with 22 points and coming off a scrappy 1-0 at home to Dijon.
Christoph Galtiar’s side know it will be impossible to repeat last season’s exploits but do still pose some threat especially upfront.
Victor Osinhem, Jonathan Bamba and Jonathan Ikone are a handful for any defence on a given day and will be the players Galtiar looks to ahead of the visit to Lyon on Tuesday.
Last season, the two sides drew 2-2 in both of their clashes but Lille will be inspired having earlier won the two previous encounters at the Graupama Stadium prior to the 2018/19 campaign.
The other interesting fixture on Tuesday will be Angers hosting Olympique Marseille at the Stade Raymond Kopa.
Angers started the season brightly but are slowly starting to fed.
Having sat second at some point, Stephan Moulin’s side are now 3rd, four points off second spot.
This past weekend, they lost 3-1 away to Nice, their five loss of the season already.
The clash with Marseille will be a huge task but if they can negotiate past it, it may be the inspiration Angers need to kick-start their season once again.
For Marseille, they are now looking more like their usual selves and are on course to ensuring a return to Champions League football.
Andre Villas-Boaz’s side who at some point sat in the bottom half have climb up the table and will start the day in 2nd.
They have taken 12 points from their last four games including defeating Brest 2-1 last Friday.
A trip to Angers is always a complicated affair for Marseille as they have drawn all their past three games there. The last time Marseille triumphed at the Raymond Kopa was in 2016.
Last season, the two sides drew both their league meetings including a 1-1 share of the spoils in the reverse fixture.
The other two games on Tuesday will see Bordeaux host Nimes and Strasbourg away to Brest.
The full fixture list of Ligue One match-day 16
Tuesday, 03-12-2019
-Bordeaux vs Nimes @9pm
-Angers vs Marseille @9pm
-Brest vs Strasbourg @9pm
-Lyon vs Lille @11:05pm
Wednesday, 04-11-2019
-Saint Etienne vs Nice @9pm
-Dijon vs Montpellier @9pm
-Amiens vs Reims @9pm
-Toulouse vs Monaco @9pm
-Metz vs Rennes @9pm
-PSG vs Toulouse @11:05pm
