Lille OSC - Toulouse preview - Casanova won't underestimate Lille

Toulouse manager Alain Casanova insists Sunday's opponents Lille are a lot better than their recent form suggests.

Lille finished the 2013-14 Ligue 1 season in third place but, after a steady start to this campaign, Les Dogues have failed to win any of their last eight league games and currently sit just three places and three points above the relegation zone.

Lille are winless in their last 13 matches in all competitions, but they did hold Paris St Germain to a 1-1 draw at the start of the month, and Casanova, whose side are 12th after losing to Monaco last Friday, believes it is only a matter of time before Rene Girard's side return to form.

"One wonders how Lille can be there," Casanova told a pre-match press conference on Friday ahead of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy encounter.

"They had a great season last year. They had a remarkable start to the season, they kept the spine of last year's team, they have experienced players and very talented youngsters.

"The stadium is remarkable and (the supporters) push the team. They have a coach who knows what he is doing.

"We know that this is a place that has not often been kind to us.

"When we see what they have been able to do against PSG two weeks ago, we said that this is a team that is not in its place and that inevitably, at some time or another, will back to the top of the table."

Lille's Europa League exit was confirmed on Thursday after they were beaten 3-0 at home by Wolfsburg and Girard has called on the club's fans to get behind the team as they attempt to put right their flailing season.

Speaking after their defeat in midweek, he told the club's official website: "When you do not win, there's disappointment, which is legitimate. I understand that our fans are not happy, but we will need their support to resurface and reverse the current situation.

"We are all in the same boat and it's not the time to disperse. Turning the page, now the most important game is Sunday's league match against Toulouse. Psychologically, we are in a difficult position. We must continue to hang on, there is no fifty solutions."