Lyonvs.Reims

The hosts are currently seventh in the table, as they look to mount a push for European football next term, while their visitors are 13th, just four points clear of the relegation places.

Match preview

OL have struggled for form since the turn of the year, with their only success in any competition being their 1-0 triumph over Montpellier on January 4.

Lyon have failed to win any of their seven matches since that triumph against Le Paillade, losing three and drawing four times in just over a month's worth of fixtures in all competitions.

Their disappointing start to the year led to the dismissal of head coach Pierre Sage on January 27, and Paulo Fonseca has since replaced him at the club.

Fonseca lost his first game in charge of Lyon last weekend, as Les Gones fell to a late 3-2 defeat away to Marseille, meaning that the former AC Milan boss will be searching for his first victory at his new club this weekend.

Despite being on a poor run of form, the hosts are still firmly in the hunt for Champions League football next year, with fourth-placed Lille only five points ahead of Fonseca's side.

The hosts will look to get their season back on track this weekend, as they take on a Reims side that have won just once in their last 13 league games.

That victory came all the way back on November 10 when Reims won 3-0 at Le Havre, meaning that they have now gone nine games without a win in Ligue 1.

Included in that nine-game winless streak was the first meeting between these two sides back in November, a game that ended in a 1-1 draw.

Rayan Cherki gave Lyon the lead that day, before an equaliser from Oumar Diakite meant that both sides had to settle for just a point in that encounter.

Like their hosts, Reims decided to make a change in the dugout recently, as Luka Elsner was sacked following last weekend's defeat against fellow strugglers Nantes.

Nantes moved to within one point of Reims in the standings following that result, and Samba Diawara has taken control at Stade Auguste-Delaune on an interim basis.

Despite their poor league form, the visitors have enjoyed a good run in the Coupe de France, and they booked their place in the quarter-finals of the competition in midweek, as they beat fifth-tier outfit Bourgoin-Jallieu on penalties following a goalless draw.

Their struggles against the minnows in the cup are perhaps unsurprising, given that Bourgoin-Jallieu knocked out Lyon on penalties last month.

That humiliation was one of the reasons behind Sage's dismissal from the club, and Reims will be hoping they can take advantage of Lyon's recent misfortunes and grab their fourth away win in the league this season.

The visitors have performed slightly better on the road than at home so far this season, with 12 points on their travels compared to 10 at home.

Diawara will look to get his second away win in a row on Sunday, before attempting to improve on the division's second-worst home record when Reims host Angers next weekend.

Lyon Ligue 1 form:

L

W

L

D

D

L

Lyon form (all competitions):

L

D

D

D

D

L

Reims Ligue 1 form:

D

L

L

D

D

L

Reims form (all competitions):

L

W

D

D

L

W

Team News

Lyon have one injury concern ahead of this fixture, as Malick Fofana is expected to miss out on the clash due to a hip injury.

Leading scorer Alexandre Lacazette is expected to lead the attack, with the former Arsenal man just one goal shy of double figures for the campaign.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be without Abdoul Kone, Teddy Teuma (calf) and Mohammed Daramy (knee) until later this month due to injuries.

Elsewhere, Yaya Fofana (ankle) remains a long-term absentee and he is not expected back until at least April, while Joseph Okumu is available for selection again, having served a one-match ban in midweek for his dismissal against Nantes.

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Perri; Tagliafico, Niakhate, Mata, Kumbedi; Tolisso, Matic, Veretout; Nuamah, Lacazette, Cherki

Reims possible starting lineup:

Diouf; Akieme, Kipre, Okumu, Buta; Atangana, Patrick, Kone; Nakamura, Diakite, Ito

We say: Lyon 1-0 Reims

Both teams are short of confidence right now, but Lyon will be slightly fresher than the visitors, who were taken all the way to penalties in the cup in midweek.

Written by

Tom Humphrey

Previews by email