By D. Crossan
Bruno Genesio will have to cope without several key players as Olympique Lyonnais attempt to return to winning ways when they host promoted Nîmes on Friday evening.
Olympique Lyonnais – Nîmes Olympique 
>> LIVE scoring and statistics from 20:45 CET on Friday
Captain Nabil Fekir hurt his ankle in the 5-0 drubbing at Paris Saint-Germain before the international break and OL hope to have the French international back for the home game against Bordeaux on November 3. Midfielder Lucas Tousart serves a one-match ban for his two yellow cards at the Parc des Princes, while Genesio is facing up to a right-back crisis.
OL have three senior right-backs on their books but all of them are currently injured. Léo Dubois hurt his thigh in training in midweek, Rafael went off with a shoulder injury in Paris and Kenny Tete is still short of match fitness as he steps up his recovery from a groin complaint.
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Genesio commented: “We have the possibility of shifting Ferland Mendy to the right, something we’ve already done during a game, as he has a good right foot. Jason Denayer has also already played in the position. We’re going to talk and reflect before taking the best decision possible.”
The coach’s options are also limited in attack as Maxwel Cornet and Bertrand Traoré only returned from international duty on Thursday. Genesio conceded: “It will be difficult for them to start and so I have Memphis Depay, Martin Terrier and Moussa Dembélé available as forwards able to begin the game.”
Genesio addresses inconsistency criticism
Genesio is well aware of the criticisms of his side’s inconsistency and used the pre-match press conference to address the issue: “We hear a lot about our inconsistency and our difficulties against teams that sit deep, but we’re not the only ones on this position. Just look at Spain against England. They lost 3-2 when their opponents only had five shots. It is something that happens in modern football.
“We might have the impression that we’re the only ones in that situation and it’s something that’s wearying for my players. It can get into their heads and influence their behaviour, make them doubt themselves. It’s said so often and when they hear it then there is the possibility they end up believing it.”
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Nîmes have drawn four of their last five matches and kick off Week 10 in 14th in the table on 10 points, four points and eight places back from OL. Bernard Blaquart’s men do possess a decent four-point margin over 19th in the table but haven’t won in the league since beating Olympique de Marseille 3-1 in Week 2 and have scored only one goal across their last four outings.
Blaquart said: “We don’t know which Lyon we’ll take on. If they are at their best then it will be very difficult. The result depends more on them than it does on us. We haven’t performed as well in front of goal as late and we’ve had fewer chances as we’ve been playing against teams that sit deep and defend in numbers.”
Probable Teams:
Olympique Lyonnais: (to follow)
Nîmes: (to follow)
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