Ligue 1:Sochaux-Lorient

We discussed Sochaux ahead of their recent home match with Bordeaux ....

This is a match the hosts dare not lose, they are just one one point above the drop zone, with the teams either side of them in the table playing each other today and with Les Lionceaux facing a daunting trip to Lille on Friday.

We have seen the best of them recently against the stronger Ligue 1 teams and incredibly, their only two wins in ten starts, have come on the road at Lyon and here against PSG. Since that win over the champions elect, they have taken just two points from four home starts against fellow relegation candidates, which has made each dropped point, doubly expensive.

You can make a case for Bordeaux just about being a member of the more elite group and what is certain is that the visitors have little to play for today and they will be more than a little weary after a tough 3-2 win in the cup at Lens in midweek, a match which will have been their focus for this week and their route into European football for next season. They arrive without left back Benoît Trémoulinas (27-1-7) and his back up Florian Marange and midfielders Gregory Sertic(24-0-2) and Landry Nguemo, they have won just 1 from 5 without Trémoulinas.

Hosts have defensive midfielder Thierry Doubai back in the squad today for the first time in six months, they will welcome the protection he can bring to the backline, which was error prone at Nice last week. They will also lose centre back Loïc Poujol to suspension after this match and this really looks a match the hosts have to get something from.

They drew that 2-2 having twice led and followed that last week with a 3-3 draw at highflying Lille, who were closing in on a Champions League place, incredibly, they were 3-0 down with just 11 minutes left to play and that tells us all we need to know about their spirit and desire to stay in the top flight. They are still in the bottom three and desperately need the win today, they are helped greatly by Lorient not only having little to play for in the league, but facing a very win-able Coupe de France semi final on Wednesday evening.

The hosts are without suspended striker Cédric Bakambu (30-8-1), but centre back Loïc Poujol (24-2-0) returns from his ban.

Lorient are without suspnded duo of goalkeeper Fabien Audard ( he has missed two starts this season both at home and they conceded in each, three goals in total) and central defender Bruno Ecuele Manga (14-0-0) he has started the last 13 matches since returning from long term injury. With a whole host of largely long term injuries, most important of which is Alain Traoré (14-6-4), they are not exactly flush with options and will have the midweek game in mind. 1.5 units Sochaux -0.5 ball 2.0-2.05.

Sochaux: : Pouplin, Camara - Kanté, Peybernes, Roussillon, Sauget, Carlão, Poujol, Corchia, Daf - Lopy, Nogueira, Boudebouz, Dias, Mikari, Doubaï, Contout, Roudet - Privat, Sio.

Lorient :Chaigneau, Lecomte,Koné, Pedrinho, Bourillon, Baca, Gassama, Monnet-Paquet, Corgnet, Barthelmé, Autret, Lemina, Jouffre, Reale,Aliadière, Sunu, Robert, Giuly.

Good Luck.