Preview: Angers vs. Lyon - prediction, team news, lineups

Les Scoistes' opening game of the season ended in a 2-0 success over Strasbourg, while Lyon could only play out a 1-1 draw with Brest.

Match preview

Getting off to the dream start during his first competitive game as a senior manager, Gerald Baticle - appointed Stephane Moulin's successor at the Stade Raymond Kopa - witnessed his side march to an eye-catching 2-0 success over Strasbourg on the opening day.

His opposite number, Julien Stephan, was also taking charge of his new club for the first time, but a 57th-minute header from captain Ismael Traore and 81st-minute effort from Stephane Bahoken propelled Angers to all three points at the Stade de la Meinau.

Now preparing to renew hostilities with the club whom he served as assistant manager for nearly a decade, Baticle and Angers are enjoying the very rare sight of sitting pretty at the top of the table, although one of Lorient or Monaco could change that by the close of play on Friday.

Not since the 1972-93 season have Angers managed to open a campaign with back-to-back victories, but Baticle needs no other motive to get the win following his departure from Lyon at the end of last season, and there will be no room for sentiment throughout the 90 minutes on Sunday.

However, a 3-0 success over former Ligue 1 whipping boys Dijon represents Angers' only home success in their last eight attempts, although the presence of the Scoistes faithful ought to help the hosts in their bid to make their home a stronghold once more.

Also entering a new era of management under former Bayer Leverkusen coach Peter Bosz, Lyon's inaugural game of the season saw them take on a Brest side with their own new name in control of the reins, as Michel der Zakarian's disciplined side rescued a point in a 1-1 stalemate.

Les Pirates' penchant for goals and leaky defence were staples of Olivier Dall'Oglio's reign, and their attacking touch has not faded - with Irvin Cardona firing in a 43rd-minute opener following a swift counter-attack - but substitute Islam Slimani netted within minutes of being introduced in the second period.

Not even the highly-anticipated return of supporters to the Groupama Stadium could propel Lyon to an opening-day victory - although some key absences did not help their cause - but Les Gones certainly have a friendly fixture list to look ahead to in the coming weeks.

Before locking horns with Paris Saint-Germain on September 18, Lyon will face Angers, Nantes, Clermont and Strasbourg - where only a haul of 12 points will be acceptable - and Les Gones embarked on a remarkable 17-game unbeaten run away from home in the 2020-21 season.

That run included a 1-0 success over Angers in November 2020 courtesy of a winner from Tino Kadewere, and victory for Lyon at the Stade Raymond Kopa would mark their sixth in a row against Angers in the top flight.

Angers Ligue 1 form:

Lyon Ligue 1 form:

Team News

Angers duo Enzo Ebosse and Farid El Melali remain absent through injury, while the likes of Pierrick Capelle and Mateo Pavlovic did not make the squad for the opening weekend.

Baticle threw in a couple of surprises for the opening day of the season - namely the inclusion of 19-year-old midfield prospect Waniss Taibi - but Antonin Bobichon seems more likely to start a battle of this magnitude.

Bahoken has put himself into contention for a start with his strike off the bench against Strasbourg, which could see another teenager - 17-year-old Mohamed-Ali Cho - make way on Sunday.

As for Lyon, Bosz has been boosted by the returns of Maxwel Cornet, Jason Denayer and Bruno Guimaraes to the training pitches this week, with the latter now an Olympic gold medallist with Brazil.

Cornet's return could see Leo Dubois swap back over to the right-hand side as 18-year-old Malo Gusto makes way, while Guimaraes and his compatriot Lucas Paqueta will both be hopeful of returning to the first XI.

Moussa Dembele was given the nod up top against Brest following his return from Atletico Madrid, but Slimani will be out to prove that he can fill the Memphis Depay role after netting on the opening day.

Angers possible starting lineup:

Bernardoni; Manceau, Traore, Thomas; Cabot, Mangani, Bobichon, Doumbia; Fulgini; Bahoken, Boufal

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Dubois, Marcelo, Denayer, Cornet; Mendes, Aouar, Paqueta; Kadewere, Slimani, Toko Ekambi

We say: Angers 1-2 Lyon

With several more top-class options to choose from for gameweek two - barring any late fitness issues - Lyon supporters will be praying that it is second time lucky for their team after Slimani bailed them out of trouble last week.

Angers could also elect to call upon more experience this week after their teenagers produced the goods against Strasbourg, but their record against Lyon does not make for positive reading, and we can only back Bosz to get off the mark with Les Gones and claim a narrow win.