The 21st day of Ligue 1 began with a match between Saint-Etienne and Lille, two potential European contenders. Lille, currently ranked 4th, faced Saint-Etienne, who is 3rd in the standings. René Girard, the coach of Lille, relied on Salomon Kalou, the Ivorian striker who had been named “Player of the Month for December” in Ligue 1. Kalou had recently regained his form with a double against Bastia. Ryan Mendes, the Cape Verdean midfielder, also made his return to the Lille squad after a month-long absence due to an ankle injury. The match was expected to be a closely contested battle, and both teams aimed to secure a victory after recent disappointments in their performances.
LIGUE 1-LILLE: WITH KALOU, MENDES RETURNS AGAINST SAINT-ETIENNE
