Saint-Etienne vs Lille OSC preview - Revelli sets sights on Europe

St Eienne assistant coach Romain Revelli has called on his side to continue their push for Europe by seeing off in-form Lille on Sunday.

Improving Lille make the trip to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on the back of three straight wins which have moved them up to eighth in Ligue 1.

St Etienne in fifth are eight points better off and have themselves won their last two matches, but Revelli knows the importance of keeping the run going.

"This match is a showdown with a rival who are certainly in form, but we are ahead by eight points. A good result would maintain or increase our lead over this this big team in championship," said Revelli on the club website.

"We need to build on the momentum generated by the victories against Lorient and Metz."

Revelli emphasised the threat that Lille would pose, though, picking out Belgian striker Divock Origi, whose goals earned his side a 3-0 win over Rennes last time out.

"Lille, like their coach Rene Girard, are a team which don't let go," he added. "This team has individuals who have come back strongly. In attack Origi scored a hat-trick last Sunday against Rennes."

Lille midfielder Marcos Lopes said the visitors had taken plenty of heart from that victory, even if he was suspended for the match.

"I am also delighted for Divock. This is good for his confidence and that of the whole team," he said.

And the Portuguese teenager said Lille still harboured hopes of qualifying for the Europa League.

"We are simply motivated to climb as high as possible," he said. "Who knows if we will manage to achieve a qualifying place in the Europa League? I think we have the ability, I hope, and we will fight for it."