Scouting report: Everton FC v Lille

Scouting report: Everton FC v Lille

A detailed look at the Blues' Europa League opposition



Match: Everton v Lille

Date: Thursday, November 6 (8.05pm)

Manager: Rene Girard. The former France international replaced a Roma-bound Rudi Garcia in the summer of 2013 and led Lille to a third-placed finish in his first season at the helm. The 60-year-old managed Nimes Olympique, Pau FC and Strasbourg during the 1990s before embarking on a long spell with France’s under 16s, U19s and U21s. Girard returned to club management in 2009 with Montpellier and led the relative minnows to their maiden Ligue 1 title in 2011-12, seeing off the challenge of Paris Saint-Germain. It was Girard’s first league title success as a manager, to go with the three Ligue 1 crowns he won as a player with Bordeaux.

Form: With just one win from their last 10 games in league and cup, Lille head to Goodison Park in decidedly poor form. Their only victory in that time came against second-from-bottom Bastia (1-0) while there have been defeats to lowly Guingamp (2-1) and mid-table Rennes (2-0). But Lille have proved to be stubborn opposition in the Europa League, drawing each of their three matches so far.

How they’ll set up: While Rene Girard has tinkered with his midfield and attacking formations this season, he always works from a solid base. A settled ‘league of nations’ back four protects keeper Vincent Enyeama, the experienced Nigerian international. The 32-year-old kept 21 clean sheets for Lille last season - more than any other keeper in Europe’s top five leagues - and has recently been linked with moves to Liverpool and Sunderland. Two experienced internationals fill the centre-back slots - Montenegro’s Marko Basa and Denmark’s Simon Kjaer - with Senegal’s Pape Souare at left-back and Frenchmen Franck Beria and Sebastien Corchia contesting the right-back position. Corchia can also play further forward on the right flank.

Girard chose to play a 4-3-3 system for the home game against Everton a fortnight ago, with Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gueye catching the eye in midfield alongside Rio Mavuba and Florent Balmont. Ronny Rodelin, Divock Origi and Corchia were the forward players that night, with Liverpool loan man Origi often operating from the left-hand side. Rising Swiss star Michael Frey played through the middle - and scored - in the weekend’s 1-1 draw with St Etienne and will be hoping to keep his place at Goodison. Injury is expected to rule out Marcos ‘Rony’ Lopes, a tricky No10 on loan from Manchester City.

Sum them up in 140 characters: The crown of the clean sheet kings has slipped. Struggling to hit last season’s heights but still tough to beat and dangerous on their day.

Player to watch: Rio Mavuba. The 30-year-old holding midfielder, who has also had spells at Bordeaux and Villarreal, is crucial to Lille's set up. He is very much the defensive shield for the back four, and covers a lot of ground. His powerful style will make for an interesting battle with Ross Barkley, if the England man gets the nod to play. Mavuba has averaged 2.1 tackles and 2.1 interceptions in Ligue 1 this season, finding his target with 88.4% of his passes. The skipper is a good organiser too.