High-flying Lorient will be looking to maintain their position in the top three of Ligue 1 when they welcome Nice to the Stade du Moustoir on Sunday.
The two teams head into this contest 14 points apart in the table and have both drawn their last two league matches.
Match preview
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After winning six successive Ligue 1 games, Lorient have since played out back-to-back draws against mid-table teams Reims and Troyes.
A goalless stalemate at home to Reims was followed by a 2-2 draw away at Troyes last weekend, with Quentin Boisgard scoring an 81st-minute equaliser to extend Lorient's unbeaten run to eight matches, their best top-flight run since 2012.
Lorient were languishing in 13th place at this stage of last season, but a strong start to this campaign sees Les Merlus sitting third in the current Ligue 1 standings, five points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain who they will lock horns with next week.
Spirits are high within the Lorient camp at present and Regis Le Bris's men head into Sunday's clash after winning four and drawing one of their first five matches on home soil.
However, extending this unbeaten run could prove challenging against Nice, whom Les Merlus have beaten just once in their last 10 Ligue 1 meetings – a slender 1-0 victory in September last year.
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Nice boosted their hopes of progressing to the Europa Conference League knockout rounds when they secured a 2-1 home victory against Partizan on Thursday night.
Arsenal loanee Nicolas Pepe saw his first-half opener cancelled out by Ricardo Gomes in the 74th minute, but Nice regained the lead just three minutes later courtesy of a strike from Mario Lemina.
While Lucien Favre's side sit top of a tightly congested Group D with one game remaining, Les Aiglons also sit 12th in the Ligue 1 table, four points above the relegation zone and 10 points behind the top four.
Nice were 10 points and 10 places better off at this stage of last season, and they have only won three of their first 12 Ligue 1 matches this term, their lowest total at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 2012-13.
Les Aiglons have fared slightly better away from home so far this season, which at least bodes well heading into Sunday's clash at Lorient, losing only one of their last six Ligue 1 fixtures on the road – a 2-1 defeat away at PSG at the beginning of this month. They also won their most recent meeting with Lorient, securing a 2-1 home victory in April.
Team News
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Lorient quartet Terem Moffi (ankle), Laurent Abergel (broken arm), Gedeon Kalulu (calf) and Samuel Loric (thigh) all remain on the treatment table with injuries, although the latter two are set to return to training next week.
Ibrahima Kone came off at half time in the draw with Troyes with concussion and the striker is doubtful for Sunday's contest, with either Yoann Cathline or Adrian Grbic available to deputise up front.
Dango Ouattara and Stephane Diarra will be called upon to provide a goal threat on the flanks, while Enzo Le Fee is expected to pull the strings in midfield alongside Bonke Innocent.
As for Nice, Andy Delort (knee), Jordan Lotomba (ankle) and Sofiane Diop (hamstring) are all ruled out with injuries.
However, Jean-Clair Todibo is available to return after serving a European suspension, and the centre-back is set to replace Pablo Rosario in the back four, while Ross Barkley – who was ineligible in midweek – could start ahead of either Hicham Boudaoui or Billal Brahimi.
Kasper Schmeichel is set to be recalled between the sticks at the expense of Marcin Bulka, while Pepe and Gaetan Laborde are likely to retain their places in attack.
Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; Le Bris, Laporte, Talbi, Le Goff; Innocent, Le Fee; Diarra, Ponceau, Ouattara; Cathline
Nice possible starting lineup:
Schmeichel; Attal, Todibo, Dante, Bard; Rosario, Lemina, Thuram; Pepe, Laborde, Barkley
We say: Lorient 2-1 Nice
Both sides have made themselves difficult to beat in recent weeks, but Lorient will be regarded as favourites for Sunday's encounter considering their bright start to the campaign and position in the table.
The hosts have impressed going forward of late, netting at least twice in six of their last seven matches, and they should have few problems in front of goal against Nice, who have kept just one clean sheet all season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Oliver Thomas
