Le Mans FC host Toulouse on Friday night with a defensive challenge and a major concern in midfield. Djibril Sidibé is expected to start against his former club, while Adil Bourabaa's injury on international duty with Algeria could keep him sidelined until 2027.

Manager Patrick Videira voiced his worry at a press conference. "For now, the news is not reassuring," he said. "There could be a surgical intervention.

The absence of the 21-year-old international, who scored three goals and provided two assists in five Ligue 1 matches this season, is a major blow for a team sitting 15th with just six points from seven games, having recorded one win, three draws and three losses. The club is reeling from a heavy 3-0 defeat to this same Toulouse side last week, a result that worsened a run of three consecutive losses. This poor run, part of a recent form of one win, one draw and three losses from the last five, has seen the team concede eight goals in just 270 minutes of play, one every 34 minutes on average, while scoring only once. This alarming recent form increases the pressure ahead of hosting an 8th-placed Toulouse side with 13 points, especially as Le Mans now trail league leaders Monaco by eight points.

The likely lineup

Facing this adversity, Patrick Videira is likely to start Nicolas Kocik in goal. A back three would feature Samuel Yohou, Harold Voyer and Djibril Sidibé on the left flank. In midfield, Lucas Calodat, Antoine Rabillard, Lucas Bretelle, Alexandre Lauray and Rayan Bamba are tipped to cover for the lost creativity. Up front, top scorer Louis Mafouta, with four goals in six appearances this term, will partner Dame Gueye.

Alongside Bourabaa, Martin Rossignol and Erwan Colas are also ruled out for the fixture. Habib Diallo is expected to begin the match on the bench. Le Mans's next fixture is away to 16th-placed Auxerre on Saturday 25 October, a key clash in the relegation battle.

Despite the gloom, Patrick Videira remains hopeful for his player's return. "I am sure that when we get Adil back, he will be fully committed and he will be twice as strong," the manager stated. The team, which has scored ten goals but conceded fifteen this season, will need to find solutions without him in the coming matches.

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