Ligue 1: Lyon vs. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/AS-Nancy-c38468 Lorraine - Preview
Tonight, 5th place Ligue side, Lyon, face Nancy at the Stade de Gerland, knowing that a win will improve their chances of breaking into the top 4.
Jean-Michel Aulas, chairman of Lyonnais, was understandably delighted at his side’s win over St Etienne in the ‘Derby de Rhone’ but he has also warned his side to renew their focus as they come up against a side that is currently in 14th place
in the Ligue 1.
Last weekend’s victory over Les Verts, thanks to a goal by former St. Etienne striker, Bafetimbi Gomis, an own goal by Moustapha Bayal and two goals each from http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jimmy-Briand-c18553 propelled Olympique de Lyonnais to 5th in the French
league and they are now 7 points behind runaway league leaders, LOSC Lille.
Lyon coach, Sebastien Puel, knows that his team will be facing a huge task next week in the UEFA Champions League when they face Real Madrid in the first leg of the Round of 32.
They would be looking to repeat the same feat they achieved last season when they knocked out the La Liga giants in the same stage of the tournament. They play Los Blancos on Tuesday at home but Aulas insisted that Lyon must focus on the upcoming game against
Ligue 1 strugglers, Nancy.
“We have a good team, the players gave their all in the derby”, he said while talking to the media. He refused to rule out the side’s chances to lift the ‘Championnat’ and said that his side is still aiming to lift the French title.
He also added that last week’s win against bitter rivals St Etienne was a good thing as it has now given new-found morale and fans a lot of pleasure.
Despite the chairman’s demands, Puel is looking to rest several first team regulars as he looks to have a fresh squad for the 1st leg against Real Madrid.
Meanwhile, Nancy are lying dangerously close to the relegation zone but midfielder, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Marama-Vahirua-c23461, says that his side can definitely get something out against a time that has a more illustrious history than theirs. "I like this kind of game, especially
in our current situation'', said the Frenchman while talking to media.
Head-to-head
Lyon-home form
For Lyon, Stade de Gerland has been a fortress this season. They have lost just one game at home but have drawn a few games as well (5). However, in the last 5 matches, they have turned out to be very prolific at home and have scored 9 goals in 3 games (the
other two games being a 1-0 defeat and a 0-0 draw).
Nancy-away form
Nancy on the other hand, have been abysmal to say the least, when they play away from home. In the current campaign so far, they have lost 5 times in 11 home games and in the last five away games, the Ligue 1 strugglers have won just 2 games and lost 1.
Heading into this game, Nancy have a goal difference of -9, which needs to significantly improve if they are to survive in the Ligue 1.
Prediction
It is likely that Lyon coach, Puel, would be fielding a relatively weak side as he’s looking to have a fit squad for the game against Real Madrid, but he will still have a lot of options and he will also be looking to bring in the regulars at some stage
of the game.
Nancy on the other hand may find it hard to break down a Lyon team that has given itself a great chance of contending for the Ligue title. A 2-0 victory can’t be ruled out against a Nancy defence that many have observed to be shaky when it plays against
superior sides in the Ligue 1.
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