In the match of the fifth round of the French championship, Nice will play at home against Lille. The match seems to be a marquee fixture, but these teams are going through very different times. Lille is fighting for the lead and after four rounds occupies fourth place with ten points. A win could well put them at the top of the table. Meanwhile Nice is at the bottom, with only two points — the same as Le Havre. But Nice's resources and squad allow, if not to fight for a place in European competitions, then certainly to be sure of a mid-table position. Right now Nice and its coaching staff are backed into a corner and must find a way out. Nice began the season with a draw against Lorient (0:0), then a defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (0:3), a share of points with Le Mans (1:1), and a defeat to Auxerre (0:1). The scariest thing is that three of Nice's four opponents are potential relegation battlers, very weak teams. Nice had one of the best schedules at the start of the season. But it managed to squander all opportunities. At the same time the 'Lille' players still have a chance to lift their heads and change everything. Perhaps the match against a strong Lille will be exactly what Nice needs to shake off the slump. Lille started with a win over Angers (2:0), then shared points with PSG (2:2), beat Toulouse (1:0), narrowly lost in the Champions League to Betis (2:3), and in the previous round secured a win over Troyes (2:0). Overall the team is moving confidently — according to the club's schedule, which aims to cement its status as a Champions League participant. This makes the guests the favorites. However Nice should not be written off yet.