Lille defence unravels amid upheaval, injuries and AFCON absences as Metz test looms | OneFootball

Lille’s once-stingy defence has sagged this season, though Bruno Genesio sees recent improvement to be tested at Metz on Friday at 20:45.

According to L'Équipe, Lille have conceded 13 in their last five Ligue 1 games and 30 in 20, only 10th best and their joint worst at this stage in the 21st century.

On 3 January, Alexsandro returned after four months out and struggled in a 0-2 home loss to Rennes. On 25 January, they collapsed 1-4 against Strasbourg.

A summer overhaul took Lucas Chevalier to Paris-SG, Bafodé Diakité to Bournemouth, Gabriel Gudmundsson to Leeds and left Ismaily unattached. Alexsandro then suffered a quadriceps injury in early September. With Turkish keeper Berke Özer, not first choice and still adapting, a rotating centre-back pairing faltered in January.

Genesio felt AFCON absences for Chancel Mbemba and Aïssa Mandi were most damaging, pushing Alexsandro back sooner than ideal. Without them, Nathan Ngoy, 22, could not lead, errors multiplied and captain Benjamin André’s injury added fragility.

Two key figures returned last week and the block tightened, in a 1-0 against Fribourg and a 0-1 at Lyon. Genesio says constant changes and full-back injuries upset balance, but recent solidity owes much to more intensive front pressing and collective work.

Thomas Meunier’s hamstring problem from the Strasbourg loss means a return could come in about 15 days at best, obliging Tiago Santos to continue at right-back. Booked at Lyon, Ngoy and Mandi will both miss Brest next week.

Source: L'Équipe