Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
EL Salvador
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
North Macedonia
South Africa
United Arab Emirates

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

sportsmole.co.uk, 5 September 2022, 15:02
Lorient host Lyon in Ligue 1 on Wednesday.

This match was rearranged from its originally scheduled date of August 14, after Lorient's pitch was deemed unsafe to play on by Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) prior to the game.

Match preview

Despite having issues with their pitch, Lorient have made an excellent start to the season, gaining 10 points from their opening five matches to sit in sixth position in the table ahead of Wednesday's visit of Lyon.

Les Merlus can move level on points with their forthcoming opponents by beating them, which seems unthinkable for a club which has finished 16th in Ligue 1 in each of the last two seasons.

Despite getting them promoted and keeping them safe from relegation, Christophe Pelissier was replaced by rookie manager Regie Le Bris earlier this summer, but the 46-year-old has defied his lack of managerial experience to make an excellent start to his career.

Their 1-0 win away to newly-promoted AC Ajaccio suggests they should have enough about them to avoid any serious relegation danger this season, although there remains a long way to go and Le Bris will undoubtedly have far tougher times of adversity to overcome.

Having already beaten Rennes away from home this season, though, Lorient will be confident that they can cause another upset against Lyon on Wednesday and prove their strong start has been no fluke.

Despite finishing eighth in Ligue 1 last season, Lyon have kept faith with Peter Bosz as their manager, with the Dutchman rewarding their loyalty so far in the form of four wins and one draw from their opening five games.

Should they beat Lorient on Wednesday, Bosz's side would move into second spot in the table, sandwiched between Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille, who both have 16 points.

With no European football as a distraction this season, Bosz will be confident of a strong domestic showing this time around, having added Alexandre Lacazette, Corentin Tolisso and Nicolas Tagliafico to their squad during the summer transfer window.

However, the transfer deadline day sale of Lucas Paqueta to West Ham United has left a sour taste in the mouth of the fanbase, having been left with very little time to replace the talented attacking midfielder.

That said, any frustrations were channelled in a positive manner in the form of the weekend's 5-0 thrashing of Angers, which should stand them in good stead for their trip to Lorient on Wednesday.

Lorient Ligue 1 form:

Lyon Ligue 1 form:

Team News

Lorient will remain without Quentin Boisgard (muscle) and Adil Aouchiche (knee) for at least a few more weeks, while Igor Silva is a doubt due to a thigh strain.

Le Bris may bring Bonke Innocent into the midfield in order to provide more defensive stability, with Theo Le Bris likeliest to make way, but the 46-year-old will not want to make too many changes from a winning side.

Lyon, meanwhile, will travel without Houssem Aouar, Jerome Boateng and Sinaly Diomande due to injury.

Ahead of a tricky trip to Monaco on Sunday, Bosz could provide 31-year-old Lacazette with a rest, allowing Moussa Dembele a start in attack in the former Arsenal man's place.

Lorient possible starting lineup:

Mvogo; Kalulu, Laporte, Talbi, Le Goff; Innocent, Abergel, Le Fee; Kone, Moffi, Ouattara

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Gusto, Mendes, Lukeba, Tagliafico; Faivre, Tolisso, Caqueret; Tete, Dembele, Ekambi

We say: Lorient 1-2 Lyon

Lyon have started the season in excellent form, and we expect them to edge a competitive match on Wednesday.

Lorient have made a strong start under Le Bris's management, but they are yet to face a side of Lyon's quality and may struggle with a second match in four days.

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

1 March 2025 talksport.com Wilfried Zaha has wasted no time adjusting to life in MLS with Charlotte FC. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In a clash that could impact the race for European football and the relegation battle in the Turkish Super Lig, Istanbul Basaksehir are set to host Sivasspor at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium on Monday. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Al Nassr cult hero Anderson Talisca has got involved in his old side's affairs, leading to suggestions he was targeting Cristiano Ronaldo. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's teenage starlet Nico O'Reilly was at the double as the Sky Blues secured a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals courtesy of a 3-1 comeback win over a spirited Plymouth Argyle side at the Etihad Stadium. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid's La Liga title hopes suffered a setback in Seville on Saturday evening, with the reigning champions suffering a 2-1 defeat to Manuel Pellegrini's Real Betis outfit. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have reportedly joined the race for Bournemouth defender Milos Kerkez, with Los Blancos preparing to battle a number of clubs for his signature during this summer's transfer window. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Goztepe SK will look to end their four-game winless league run when they welcome Samsunspor to the Gursel Aksel Stadium on Monday. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Wolves talisman Matheus Cunha left his side a man down and out of the FA Cup with a bizarre last minute red card. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United attacker Alejandro Garnacho during this summer's transfer window. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United reportedly view Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery as a potential replacement for Ruben Amorim, should the club decide to make another change in the dug-out at the end of the campaign. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Millwall supporters are set to be investigated by the Football Association for homophobic chants aimed at Ben Chilwell. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made 11 changes to his starting lineup for this evening's FA Cup fifth-round tie against Plymouth Argyle at the Etihad Stadium. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The reigning FA Cup holders take on a team who have never won the tournament in Sunday's fifth-round contest, as Manchester United welcome Fulham to their Old Trafford home. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid defender Raul Asencio has apparently turned down Los Blancos' first offer of a new contract amid interest from 'several teams' in the burgeoning centre-back. 1 March 2025 talksport.com A new rule is set to be introduced next season to combat time-wasting from goalkeepers. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Following their cup success in midweek, Sporting Lisbon will aim to build on that momentum when they return to Primeira Liga action on Monday for round 24, welcoming Estoril Praia to Estadio Jose Alvalade. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will continue their La Liga campaign with a home fixture against Real Sociedad on Sunday afternoon. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl has warned Joshua Kimmich that no player is above the club as the Arsenal-linked midfielder reportedly hesitates over a new contract. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Despite an initially promising start in coaching, John Terry is now set to switch careers. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly prepared to rival AC Milan for Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Rayan Ait-Nouri. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Jose Mourinho's four-match ban has been halved and his £35,000 fine reduced after a successful appeal. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly not ruled out the prospect of making an effort to sign Chelsea defender Levi Colwill this summer. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Konyaspor will be looking to inject some much-needed momentum into their survival fight in the Turkish Super Lig when they host Trabzonspor at Torku Arena on Monday. 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides looking to bounce back from recent defeats in the Turkish Super Lig go head-to-head on Monday as Gaziantep host Eyupspor at the Gaziantep Stadium 1 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk AC Milan are reportedly interested in signing Manchester United midfielder Casemiro this summer. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Burnley players refused to shake the hand of Preston's Milutin Osmajic, who was accused of racism by Clarets star Hannibal Mejbri just two weeks ago. 1 March 2025 talksport.com Jean-Philippe Mateta was rushed to hospital after a shocking challenge from Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts. 1 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest news as the FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend. 1 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest news as the FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend. 1 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest news as the FA Cup takes centre stage this weekend.