Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

Clermontvs.Lyon

sportsmole.co.uk, 10 May 2024, 09:25
In the penultimate round of league fixtures this season, Clermont and Lyon will do battle on Sunday in a game of major importance at both ends of the Ligue 1 table.

The hosts are confined to a bottom-three finish and will fight to keep any hopes of a relegation playoff alive, as opposed to an automatic drop, while their visitors trail Lens in the final European spot by two points with six left to fight for.

Match preview

Clermont head into the final two games of the Ligue 1 season in an increasingly desperate position, having been confined to a finish in the drop zone and left to fight for the playoff place and avoid the two automatic relegation spots.

That will be no easy task, though, as Les Lanciers find themselves stuck at the foot of the division having amassed just 25 points from their 32 outings thus far, while only picking up five wins along the way.

The most recent of those triumphs did come recently to keep their faint automatic survival hopes alive, as Pascal Gastien ended a four-game winless streak with a 4-1 beating of Reims, thanks to braces from Muhammed Cham and Elbasan Rashani, but they would see any hopes of escaping the bottom three dashed in a tough trip to second-placed Monaco last weekend.

Cham did draw Les Lanciers level at a goal apiece in the first half of that meeting, but Breel Embolo instantly restored the hosts' lead before Wissam Ben Yedder added a second-half brace to condemn Gastien's men to a 4-1 defeat of their own and confine them to the bottom three.

Now trailing 17th-placed Lorient by one point and 16th-placed Metz by four with just six left to fight for, Clermont head into Sunday's match knowing only a win will be sufficient to maintain any hopes of steering clear of the bottom two and booking a relegation playoff tie, while also relying on Metz suffering a defeat to keep the fight open ahead of the final day.

They face a tough test, though, as the visitors arrive in fine form with the need for a win of their own in their bid for a top-six finish this term, after enduring a dismal start to the campaign.

Boasting more Ligue 1 wins than any other side since the turn of the year under the management of Pierre Sage, Lyon have quickly risen through the French top flight and into seventh spot, and they have strengthened their claim by amassing 19 points in the last eight attempts, with the only defeat in that run coming away at leaders Paris Saint-Germain in late April.

After that setback ended a five-match unbeaten streak, Les Gones have again bounced back in impressive fashion since, firstly returning to winning ways in a tight contest with second-placed Monaco, with Alexandre Lacazette, Said Benrahma and Malick Fofana firing them to a 3-2 triumph, before they again came out on top in a dramatic encounter away at Lille last time out.

Sage's side trailed 2-0 and 3-2 in that meeting, but Benrahma and Fofana initially levelled the game, before Lacazette hit an 88th-minute leveller to tie the game at three goals apiece and Mama Balde snatched all three points with the winner in injury time at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

Such a comeback win saw Lyon remain two points behind sixth-placed Lens and four behind fifth-placed Nice ahead of the final two games, and they will bid to strengthen their surprise push for European qualification with a third straight victory at the weekend.

Clermont Ligue 1 form:

L

D

D

L

W

L

Lyon Ligue 1 form:

D

W

W

L

W

W

Lyon form (all competitions):

W

W

W

L

W

W

Team News

Clermont remain without several key players heading into Sunday's contest, with midfield veteran Maxime Gonalons remaining confined to the treatment room alongside Jim Allevinah, Cheick Oumar Konate and Adam Mabrouk.

Elbasan Rashani will return to contention, though, after serving a suspension last time out, and he should line up on the left wing from the start following his brace in their 4-1 beating of Reims last month.

Muhammed Cham also netted two in that game and their leveller last time out to take his tally to eight Ligue 1 goals for the season, and he will continue to play an important role behind a lone striker with Johan Gastien and Yohan Magnin set to continue at the base of the midfield.

Lyon may be unchanged from Monday's 4-3 win away at Lille, although Malick Fofana and Mama Balde do have claims to come in from the outset after scoring crucial goals off the bench in that game, with the former having notched up three in his last five appearances.

Alexandre Lacazette is bound to again spearhead the attack, having scored six goals in Les Gones' last six Ligue 1 outings to take his tally to 17 for the season, while winger Said Benrahma has also scored in back-to-back matches from the left-hand side after his January loan arrival from West Ham United.

Maxence Caqueret, Corentin Tolisso and Nemanja Matic will all bid to keep their places in midfield, while Duje Caleta-Car and Jake O'Brien are bound to continue their centre-back partnership.

Clermont possible starting lineup:

Diaw; Zeffane, Pelmard, Caufriez, Borges; Gastien, Magnin; Virginius, Cham, Rashani; Kyei

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Mata, O'Brien, Caleta-Car, Tagliafico; Caqueret, Matic, Tolisso; Fofana, Lacazette, Benrahma

We say: Clermont 1-3 Lyon

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk History could be in the making on Wednesday night when fourth-tier AS Cannes welcome Reims to the Stade Pierre-de-Coubertin in the semi-finals of the Coupe de France. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Viktor Gyokeres is a complete striker who will guarantee Arsenal goals in abundance - something fellow target Benjamin Sesko cannot offer. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha has taken to social media to declare his immediate commitment to the Premier League club. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool and Everton will both be out for more than just bragging rights in the second Merseyside derby of the season this midweek. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has provided a positive fitness update on Chris Wood ahead of Tuesday's Premier League fixture against Manchester United. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur will look to make amends for the disappointing defeat they suffered at Fulham before the international break when they make another trip across London to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Thursday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Andoni Iraola hasn't 'done enough' to justify leaving Bournemouth for the manager hotseat at Tottenham. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be bidding to avoid ending a 103-year streak in Tuesday's Premier League fixture against West Ham United. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Bukayo Saka is available following a hamstring injury. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton are set to remain without wide pair Iliman Ndiaye and Dwight McNeil for the short trip across Stanley Park to face Liverpool in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool could be forced to start Jarell Quansah at right-back once again when they welcome Everton to Anfield for the Merseyside derby in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com A brand new football competition is here as some of the sport's legends combine with famous faces for six-a-side action. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool and Everton lock horns in the Merseyside derby for the second time in two months when the two long-standing rivals go head-to-head at Anfield in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Vitor Pereira has played down Matheus Cunha's comments regarding his future at Molineux. 31 March 2025 talksport.com A Serie A star was forced to address a bizarre injury that has been compared to a 'zombie bite'. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool youngster Ben Doak is reportedly wanted by local rivals Everton ahead of the summer transfer window. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton has claimed that the club are "well protected" from the outcome regarding the striker Liam Delap. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool duo Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliott are reportedly admired by Newcastle United as the summer transfer window approaches. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Everton manager David Moyes hasn't stepped foot in their new stadium and won't until one thing in particular is completed. 31 March 2025 talksport.com The Premier League action roars back into action after the international break - and talkSPORT has you covered. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea will seemingly have to remain patient to find out who will complete their group at the Club World Cup. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham manager Marco Silva has claimed that Arsenal will have an "advantage" for Tuesday's Premier League meeting at the Emirates Stadium. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly contemplating whether to rival Manchester City in the race for a Serie A goalkeeper. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to claim three more points as they thrive for a spot in the Champions League, Manchester City will host Leicester City at the Etihad on Wednesday night in the Premier League. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City are expected to make a number of attacking alterations to their side ahead of a daunting clash with Manchester City in the Premier League on Wednesday night. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Antony continues to impress on loan from Man United, with one Real Betis player joking about how they can keep hold of him. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are set to be without the talents of Erling Haaland for Wednesday night's Premier League visit of Leicester City. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to boost their chances of a Champions League finish, Manchester City will welcome Championship-bound Leicester City to the Etihad on Wednesday night for a Premier League clash. 31 March 2025 talksport.com Shrewsbury Town's proposed takeover has fallen through, plunging the club into turmoil. 31 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea return to action on Thursday night when they play host to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.
Fri 04 Apr, 18:45
A
Genoa Genoa
-
sch
Udinese Udinese
Something went wrong! Don't hesitate to let us know if you need any help.