Lyon step up silverware hunt

Winning a Cup is a stated aim this season for Olympique Lyonnais, who host RC Strasbourg Alsace in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue on Tuesday.

Olympique Lyonnais  –  RC Strasbourg Alsace

>> LIVE SCORING AND STATISTICS FROM 21:00 CET (2000 GMT)

OL have lots to play for in the weeks and months ahead. They are in the thick of the battle for a top-three finish in Ligue 1 Conforama and have a UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against FC Barcelona to look forward to next month. They are also through to the next round of the Coupe de France after a 2-0 win at Bourges Foot of the fifth tier on Saturday, but the Coupe de la Ligue offers the shortest route to glory.

After a 3-2 win at Amiens SC – to where they will return in the Coupe de France later this month – in the last round, Lyon welcome Strasbourg to the Groupama Stadium as they hope to take a step closer to winning a trophy they last lifted in 2001. Lyon have not won any silverware since the 2012 Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions.

“I have said it before and I will say it again – the domestic Cups are very important this year, because I would like to see this squad win something. That is not to put pressure on them, but it’s because they deserve it,” said Genesio, who recently celebrated three years at the helm.

“This is the shortest route to win a title. We are already in the quarter-finals, and we are at home, so it is a very important match.”

Mothiba out for Strasbourg

Skipper Nabil Fekir is set to return after being rested in Bourges, while Memphis Depay is back from suspension. Mathieu Gorgelin will get a run out in goal in place of Anthony Lopes. Despite scoring at the weekend, Martin Terrier may not start against the side for whom he starred on loan last season.

Strasbourg will be playing their first game of 2019 after their Coupe de France tie at Grenoble on Friday was postponed. Thierry Laurey’s side ended the old year by beating OGC Nice and won on penalties in Marseille in the last round of this competition. They are without South African striker Lebo Mothiba due to injury here.

Probable teams

Lyon: Gorgelin; Denayer, Marcelo, Marçal; Tete, Ndombele, Aouar, Mendy; Fekir (c); Traoré, Depay

Strasbourg: Kamara; Lala, Koné, Mitrovic (c), Martinez, Caci; Gonçalves, Martin, Liénard, Thomasson; Ajorque

>> PRE-MATCH STATS/HEAD-TO-HEAD

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*