Coupet ruled out for four months

Complex injury
Coupet suffered the tear to the lateral internal ligament in his left knee and the 34-year-old will now be sidelined for Lyon's UEFA Champions League group stage campaign as well as a large chunk of the Ligue 1 season. "An MRI scan this afternoon revealed a ruptured ligament, minor cruciate damage and instability in the meniscus [cartilage]," said the French champions. "The injury will require a two-month recovery period followed by another two months of training before he can return."

Untimely blow
The loss of Coupet – one of four players to have participated in all of Lyon's six successive title triumphs, making 351 league appearances for the team – comes three days before Alain Perrin's side launch another championship challenge at home to AJ Auxerre on Sunday. Coupet will be replaced by his understudy Rémy Vercoutre. "We are still in early August and the transfer window is not closed," said the 27-year-old Vercoutre. "I won't put any pressure on myself and I'll keep working as usual with goalkeeping coach Joël Bats."