Lyon look to maintain momentum vs Saint-Etienne; PSG take on Dijon

Lyon are hoping to build on their rousing Champions League win over Juventus this weekend as they face bitter rivals Saint-Etienne, whose coach Claude Puel heads into hostile territory under serious pressure.

Off the field, Lyon have established themselves as the second force in the French game behind Paris Saint-Germain, but they are struggling to translate that into on-pitch success.

Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Juventus in their Champions League last 16, first leg has raised hopes Lyon might win a knockout tie in the competition for the first time in a decade.

However, the result came with Rudi Garcia’s side languishing in seventh place in Ligue 1 and in serious danger of missing out on the Champions League next season.

“We showed that over 90 minutes we are capable of beating a team who are stronger than us,” said Garcia, who saw Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes, signed for 20 million euros ($22 million) in January, star on his home debut. It was the first of three huge home games in eight days for Lyon — after Saint-Etienne, PSG visit in the French Cup semi-finals.

“It is going to be an exciting end to the season for us, but the watchword right now is recuperation,” said Garcia, whose side also face PSG in the League Cup final.

Most Lyon fans are still to be convinced by Garcia, and the club have reacted angrily to an image of their coach made up as a clown going viral online.

In a statement, they said they will take action against any future cases of online “defamation, slander, threatening behaviour, harassment or inciting hatred”.

Garcia was appointed in October in the wake of a 1-0 defeat at Saint-Etienne in the last derby, which was also Puel’s first game in charge of Les Verts.

The former Leicester City boss enjoyed a good start at Saint-Etienne, going unbeaten through his first nine matches.

However, they have won just two of 12 league games played since the start of December and are hovering just above the relegation zone.

Puel also took the risky decision to drop goalkeeper and fan favourite Stephane Ruffier last weekend, and really needs a positive result.

Agence France-Presse



French League fixtures (kick-offs GMT)
Saturday: Paris Saint-Germain vs Dijon (1630), Amiens vs Metz, Brest vs Angers, Monaco vs Reims, Montpellier vs Strasbourg, Toulouse vs Rennes (all 1900 GMT)
Sunday: Nantes vs Lille (1400), Bordeaux vs Nice (1600), Lyon vs Saint-Etienne (2000)