Lyon looking to bounce back

By Chris Burke

After their shock French Cup exit to Clermont Foot Auvergne in midweek, Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyonnais will have to pick themselves up for Friday's trip to SM Caen.

Penalty shoot-out
"That's football," said Lyon left-back Eric Abidal following second-division Clermont's penalty shoot-out win. "Now the important thing is to find our rhythm again before Friday." Sidney Govou's absence is a blow after he was injured in that match, but the champions still enjoy a comfortable eight-point cushion at the top and will be boosted by the return from suspension of Michael Essien.

Caen concerns
Caen, meanwhile, are just one point above the relegation zone and are without a home win since October. French Under-21 international Reynald Lemaître believes they must throw caution to the wind. "If we lose, we can say [Lyon] were stronger than us, but we have to give it everything," he said. Patrick Remy's team at least have history on their side, having won four of the eight top-flight visits of Lyon.

Derby setbacks
Olympique de Marseille's cup campaign was over before this week, so have had a week to prepare for Sunday's game with tenth-placed AS Saint-Etienne. The two most successful clubs in French football history will both be keen to bounce back from derby setbacks last weekend. Les Verts lost 3-2 to Lyon while Marseille needed to rescue a draw against basement-club FC Istres. "If we let St Etienne dominate the way we let Istres do so, chances are we won't even escape with a draw," warned Marseille defender Habib Beye.

Lille mission
Another team shocked by Ligue 2 opposition in midweek, LOSC Lille Métropole, can temporarily leapfrog Marseille when they travel to relegation-candidates SC Bastia on Saturday. Defeated by Grenoble Foot 38 on Wednesday, Lille will be looking for a first league win in six games before they face AJ Auxerre in the UEFA Cup on Thursday. For their part, fifth-place Auxerre, fresh from a dramatic cup win against holders Paris Saint-Germain FC, visit RC Lens, while the team above them, AS Monaco FC, are without suspended captain Julien Rodriguez for the visit of FC Metz.

Pagis injury
Elsewhere, RC Strasbourg face AC Ajaccio while Istres will try to pick up points at home to FC Girondins de Bordeaux. Also on Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain FC entertain FC Nantes Atlantique, FC Sochaux-Montbéliard visit Stade Rennais FC and Toulouse FC meet OGC Nice.