'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#4 Lille OSC
Just last season, Lille OSC were battling it out to survive relegation from the French first division. Five months later and the are comfortably sitting joint second, six points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain. Part of the reason for this change in fortune is the acquisition of new head coach Christophe Galtier.
The former Saint-Etiene tactician brought in Jonathan Ikone, Zeki Çelik, and Loïc Rémy for a combined fee of €8.9m (Transfermarkt) and reinforced his squad with four free transfers, including Portuguese center-back José Fonte.
Forwards Nicolas Pépé and Jonathan Bamba have been racking in the goals for Les Douges, with the former already bagging 8 goals and 5 assists in 12 league matches alone. Pépé has emerged as a target for Arsenal, Chelsea, and Bayern alike as a result of his performances this season.
Galtier and co. will be hoping to continue this fine run of form into the second half of the season as they look to cement a Champions League spot for next year. Before they do so, however, they have a strong task ahead of them. Lille OSC is on the verge of a Coupe de Ligue knockout after Strasbourg took the lead in the first leg. Can Galtier mastermind a famous victory in the second leg?
