After ending a six-game winless run in all competitions last weekend, Lyon will look to claim consecutive victories when they welcome Saint-Etienne to the Parc Olympique Lyonnais for a derby contest.
Meanwhile, the visitors find themselves at the foot of the Ligue 1 table and are looking to end a dismal run of six consecutive league defeats.
Match preview
© Reuters
Before last weekend's encounter with Troyes, Peter Bosz's side had embarked on a five-game winless league run, but rather than losses, it was a run of four consecutive draws that has hindered Lyon's push for the European places.
Against Troyes, Lyon returned to winning ways for the first time since the end of November, with Moussa Dembele scoring from the spot to leave his side five points of the European qualification spots.
A meeting against a Saint-Etienne side that has won just two league games this season presents Lyon with a superb opportunity to clinch back-to-back wins.
Despite losing just once at home in Ligue 1 this term, Lyon have drawn five of their 10 matches at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais, with a leaky defence that has kept just one home clean sheet preventing them from picking up more victories.
One issue that has not blighted Bosz's men is a failure to score goals as they have found the net in every home league game, and having won five of their last six competitive home meetings with Saint-Etienne, Lyon will fancy their chances on Friday.
© Reuters
After taking over the reins from Claude Puel in the middle of December, Pascal Dupraz has overseen a run of results that read two wins and two defeats, but the concern for the new boss is that both losses have taken place in Ligue 1.
Despite picking up two victories in the Coupe de France, Dupraz is still looking for his first league win as Les Verts boss after a 2-1 loss at home to Lens last weekend prolonged their poor run of form.
Friday's visitors can take positives from the Lens defeat, though, as they registered their first Ligue 1 goal since November and were just seconds away from claiming a precious point.
Ryad Boudebouz gave Saint-Etienne the lead at the break, but a Florian Sotoca strike set up a grandstand finish with his 77th-minute equaliser before Lens snatched the three points in the fifth minute of stoppage time through Seko Fofana.
Although they have only won once away from home in the league this season, Saint-Etienne will look to replicate the type of performance that resulted in them taking a point off Lyon back in October, which came courtesy of Wahbi Khazri's late equaliser.
- L
- D
- D
- D
- D
- W
- D
- D
- D
- D
- D
- W
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- L
- W
- L
- W
- L
Team News
© Reuters
Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Sinaly Diomande have recently returned to training, but neither player is fit enough to feature on Friday.
Emerson Palmieri is expected to miss out due to illness, while Tino Kadewere, Islam Slimani and Karl Toko Ekambi are all currently representing their respective countries at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Following the victory against Troyes, Bosz could name an unchanged changed lineup for the derby game.
Saint-Etienne are currently without five players due to the Africa Cup of Nations, with Harold Moukoudi, Saidou Sow, Yvan Neyou, Denis Bouanga and Khazri all on international duty.
Meanwhile, the visitors are also without the services of Arnaud Nordin, Etienne Green, and Romain Hamouma due to injury problems.
Abdoulaye Bakayoko came into the starting lineup to make his debut for Les Verts last weekend, and the defender could keep his place in the side for Friday's derby.
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Lukeba, Boateng, Da Silva; Dubois, Guimaraes, Caqueret, Henrique; Paqueta, Aouar, Dembele
Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:
Bernardoni; Macon, Nade, Kolodziejczak, Bakayoko, Silva; Thioub, Youssouf, Camara, Aouchiche; Boudebouz
We say: Lyon 3-1 Saint-Etienne
Lyon have kept just one clean sheet at home in Ligue 1 this season, while Saint-Etienne have one away shutout in the league to their name, which is why we think that this encounter could be full of goals.
Les Gones have fared well in recent home meetings against Les Verts, and though derby games can spring surprises, we think Lyon's quality will prevail on Friday.
Top tip
Data Analysis
Our analysis of all available data, including recent performances and player stats up until an hour before kickoff, suggested the most likely outcome of this match was a Lyon win with a probability of 62.58%. A draw had a probability of 20.4% and a win for Saint-Etienne had a probability of 17.05%.
The most likely scoreline for a Lyon win was 2-0 with a probability of 10.05%. The next most likely scorelines for that outcome were 2-1 (9.94%) and 1-0 (9.65%). The likeliest drawn scoreline was 1-1 (9.54%), while for a Saint-Etienne win it was 1-2 (4.72%). The actual scoreline of 1-0 was predicted with a 9.7% likelihood. Our team at Sports Mole and our data analysis both correctly predicted that Lyon would win this match.
