Lille set sights on silverware in 2011

Leaders at the turn of the year, LOSC Lille Métropole are dreaming of ending a wait of more than half a century for a major honour as they prepare to resume their Ligue 1 campaign at OGC Nice on Saturday.

After taking 18 points from their last seven league games of 2010, Lille were a point clear of Paris Saint-Germain FC and Stade Rennais FC entering the Christmas break. Les Dogues were last crowned winter champions in 1949, when they went on to finish second behind Stade de Reims Champagne by a single point.

That campaign came in the midst of a glorious decade for the north-eastern club, who claimed five French Cups and two league titles between 1945 and 1955. They were led by famous names such as Marceau Sommerlinck – still the only player to have won five cup winner's medals – Jean Baratte and André Strappe.

In France's fourth-largest city, home to more than one million people, football remains more than a sport even if LOSC have continually fallen short of the big prizes since their last cup success in 1955. Yet this season has brought new hope of ending their wait, and moving into their new 50,000-seater stadium next year as France's reigning champions.

"We will try, believe me," said Ligue 1's leading scorer Moussa Sow, who joined this summer from Rennes and already has 14 goals to his name, including the equaliser against AS Saint-Étienne in their final game before the shutdown. "No one can say if we'll succeed but we'll give it our all for these fans and this footballing region. We'll see where we are with five games to go."

Lille's presence at the summit may constitute a surprise but the team built by president Michel Seydoux, a key figure in the French film industry, have been top-ten regulars since 2002/03, finishing second in 2005 and fourth last year. "Winter champions is not a title in itself, just the reward for a good start to the season," said coach Rudi Garcia, whose side will meet PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 next month.

He added: "We aim to go on. We have no other option than to think about the title. You must have dreams; dreams bring progress. We have the right to dream but the crown is not ours, not yet."

He is wise to be cautious given that all the usual suspects, after tough starts, have come back into contention in a tight-looking division. Only three points separate first from sixth with champions Olympique de Marseille, Olympique Lyonnais, PSG all in the pursuing pack.

That said, Les Dogues are widely considered the team producing the most attractive football in France with the promising Belgian youngster Eden Hazard and skilful Ivory Coast forward Gervinho, in particular, combining with Sow in some lightning-fast attacking play. Further back their defence is built around French international Adil Rami, who will be leaving for Valencia CF this summer. Whether he can do so with a French championship medal in his pocket remains to be seen.