Top-flight European club football returns this weekend after the international break and there is a Ligue 1 fixture to enjoy on Friday night. Lyon host St Etienne at the Groupama Stadium in a match between the teams in fourth and fifth place in the table.
Lyon know the title is already looking out of reach but a win in this game will see them move above second place Lille, at least until the weekend. A win for St Etienne would see them move up to third place and into the Champions League qualifying positions, so there is all to play for in this match.
Lyon are currently on a run of six matches unbeaten across all competitions and will be hoping to extend that run of good form with a win. There have been three wins across those six matches, with victories away to Guingamp and Angers plus a home win over Nimes. Their last match was the game in Guingamp and Lyon came away with a 4-2 win.
Trends show Lyon have lost only four of their last twenty-six Ligue 1 games and they have lost just one in their last fourteen at home in all competitions. However, they have drawn four of their last five on home soil.
Lyon like to entertain when playing at home and have scored two or more goals in nine of their last twelve home Ligue 1 games. Both teams have scored in three of their last four at home.
St Etienne travel on the back of a 2-0 win over Reims last time out. That match was the second in a double-header at home for St Etienne and they also defeated Angers 4-3, which was a very exciting match.
Trends show St Etienne have been a tough team to beat in recent games and they have lost just four of their last twenty-nine matches in Ligue 1. They have tasted defeat just once in their last eight Ligue 1 games and have won five of those matches.
However, St Etienne have struggled to pick up wins away from home and have won only one of their last seven away games in Ligue 1. The win came at Toulouse earlier this season and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last four but have found the back of the net themselves in their last three away matches.
Team news and Lyon are monitoring the fitness of Houssem Aouar, Moussa Dembele and Leo Dubois who are doubtful for this game. Amine Gouiri has a serious knee injury and will definitely miss out.
St Etienne make the trip without experienced central defender Loic Perrin who has a hamstring injury. Every other player should be fit and available for Jean Gasset’s team.
This is a game which should have plenty of goal mouth action. Both teams have been finding the back of the net regularly but have struggled to keep clean sheets. Lyon have the advantage playing at home and we could see a home win with both team scoring.