Guingamp vs Evian Thonon Gaillard preview - Lossl sets friendship aside

Posted Friday, April 17, 2015 by PA

Guingamp goalkeeper Jonas Lossl was best man at Evian defender Jesper Juelsgaard's wedding but will put sentiment aside in a relegation survival fight this weekend.

Lossl and his team come up against an Evian side on Saturday which is set to feature fellow Dane Juelsgaard, who he has known for over a decade.

The two sides are among seven at the bottom end of the Ligue 1 table separated by just four points. Evian go into the weekend one point above the bottom three, with Guingamp three points better off.

Lossl spoke to the Ouest France newspaper about Juelsgaard and said: "We met when we were 14 years old and we went to play at FC Midtjylland at the same time. We played together in all the Denmark under-age sides together.

"Three years ago I was the best man at his wedding. We really are very close.

"I know where he likes to go to get the ball, which is good for me, and I know he is a taker of corners.

"But this is the end of the season. We must finish the job. We still need points to make sure we stay up. If we can take another six or seven, it would be fantastic.

"For a little over 90 minutes, Jesper is not my friend at all. Afterwards, when I have beaten him, it will depend on him!"

Evian's Cedric Cambon is set to make his 100th league appearance in the match at the Stade du Roudourou and is under no illusions how important the game is for both sides.

Cambon told etgfc.com: "By beating us, Guingamp might be safe. They will try to push us around so I hope all the players will be conscious of that.

"I'm sure it will be an open match. Going forward, they are a redoubtable opponent. We have to be solid and hope that we can do something. After that, we will see what we are able to create."

Evian could bring in Youssouf Sabaly at right-back to cover calf injury victim Kassim Abdallah, while Gilles Sunu is available after a spell on the sidelines.

Sambou Yatabare is suspended for Guingamp after his dismissal in the local derby against Rennes.

Evian have won just one of their last five, having won three in a row before that.

Guingamp are on a poor run of form which has seen them drift towards the fringes of the survival fight. They have managed just one win in seven league games.