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

The hosts were assured of survival despite a 1-0 defeat to Strasbourg last time out, while Les Gones edged a tight contest with Nantes 3-2.

Match preview

Adrien Thomasson's header settled the contest in Strasbourg's favour, but Clermont allowed themselves to celebrate just as much as Les Coureurs following the news that their Ligue 1 safety had been secured.

Results elsewhere going their way means that Pascal Gastien's side will be in Ligue 1 next year, and having set out at the start of the season simply aiming to avoid the dreaded drop, the 2021-22 campaign has been a wholly successful one for Les Lanciers.

Clermont's former Ligue 2 foes Troyes have also ensured themselves of a place in the top division next season, and Gastien's 16th-placed side can still rise above ESTAC and Angers into 14th with victory on the final day - assuming the other games' results are kind to them.

Losing just two of their last six in Ligue 1 has been pivotal to Clermont's survival bid, and the pressure is firmly off the hosts for the final day of the season, but they will certainly want to give their fans something else to cheer before the summer.

Clermont have taken four points from the last six on offer at home against Angers and Montpellier HSC, but they have kept just three clean sheets at the Stade Gabriel-Montpied all season long, and Lyon will be equally desperate to end a forgettable campaign on a high note.

In an encounter which more or less summed up Lyon's season - a wealth of attacking talent being let down by lacklustre defending - Les Gones just about managed to edge a five-goal thriller with Nantes and spoil the visitors' Coupe de France celebration party.

Moussa Dembele, Lucas Paqueta and Tete all struck for Les Gones to register Quentin Merlin and Wylan Cyprien's responses inconsequential, but Lyon are already condemned to a season without European football, and the inquest has already begun.

The eighth-placed visitors will not finish any lower than that this season and could still rise above Lens with a victory into seventh place, with Les Sang et Or facing a daunting task against Monaco, but Peter Bosz's side have simply not been consistent enough.

Scoring 20 goals over their last six games certainly proves that Lyon's issues do not lie in the final third, but they have only won five times away from home all season in the top flight and cannot consign the 2021-22 campaign to history quickly enough.

If Saturday's game is anything like the first meeting between the two sides this season, supporters are in for a final-day treat, as Clermont came back from 3-1 down to rescue a point in a 3-3 draw with Lyon back in August, with Elbasan Rashani the hero of the hour following his late brace.

Clermont Ligue 1 form:

Lyon Ligue 1 form:

Team News

Clermont will welcome defender Florent Ogier back to the fold after he served a one-game suspension in the loss to Strasbourg, and the skipper should slot straight back into the side over Jean-Claude Billong.

However, Salis Abdul Samed - who was an unused substitute last time out - is now banned for an accumulation of yellow cards, while Arthur Desmas, Cedric Hountondji and Jason Berthomier are all injured, and Rashani will need assessing after missing out at Strasbourg.

Gastien may offer some minutes to youngsters such as Nael Jaby and Fred Gnalega on Saturday, but the calibre of opposition should still see a strong first XI sent out onto the field.

As for Lyon, midfielder Thiago Mendes will serve the second of a two-game ban this week, but Maxence Caqueret's return from a knee injury has eased Bosz's midfield woes.

Caqueret could now force his way into contention over Tanguy Ndombele for the final day, where Lenny Pintor, Sinaly Diomande, Rayan Cherki and Jason Denayer are all set to miss out due to injury.

Nineteen-year-old Bradley Barcola will hope for some more minutes off the bench for Les Gones, and Bosz will be loath to alter a winning lineup, even if the defending left a lot to be desired.

Clermont possible starting lineup:

Djoco; Zedadka, Seidu, Ogier, Nsimba; Busquets, Gastien; Dossou, Khaoui, Da Cunha; Bayo

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Gusto, Boateng, Lukeba, Henrique; Paqueta, Caqueret, Aouar; Tete, Dembele, Toko Ekambi

We say: Clermont 1-3 Lyon

Whether they end up on the winning or losing side, Lyon's goal-laden affairs are normally spectacular to watch, and this final-day meeting has a lot to live up to after the previous six-goal stalemate.

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