Rennes looking to irk lofty Lyon

Olympique Lyonnais seek a morale boost before a busy schedule when they visit Stade Rennais FC on Saturday in the highlight of the weekend Ligue 1 programme.

Busy schedule
The six-time French champions are three points clear at the top but worried supporters with a 2-1 home defeat by struggling Olympique de Marseille last time out. After a two-week international break, they now face seven games in four weeks until the winter break, among them two UEFA Champions League matches they must win to guarantee progress.

Perrin's assessment
The first of those two Group E fixtures is at home to FC Barcelona on Tuesday, and coach Alain Perrin sees victory against Rennes as the ideal preparation, saying: "The best way to get ready for Barcelona is by playing well against Rennes, a team who impressed early in the season but who have stalled since they have been without Sylvain Wiltord [with a calf injury]. Now he is back, we'll keep an eye on him and also on Jimmy Briand and Jérôme Leroy. They are a solid team in defence but have also acquired real attacking bite."

Encouraging result
Rennes will be desperate to make up for a 3-0 crushing by FC Girondins de Bordeaux on 11 November. The Brittany club have gone five games without a win, yet can take inspiration from last season when Stéphane Mbia's goal earned a 1-0 home success against Lyon, making Rennes the first side to beat the champions in Ligue 1 in 2006/07. Coach Pierre Dréossi said: "Lyon have been a class apart in our top flight for a long time, but over one game we can trouble them. We have proved that in the past."

Nancy test
The weekend action will also see second-placed AS Nancy-Lorraine, a surprise package relying on exactly the same squad as last term, host LOSC Lille Métropole while third-placed Bordeaux travel to lowly SM Caen. Marseille, whose young playmaker Samir Nasri appears to be recapturing his brilliant best after fitness worries, should continue their recovery at the expense of bottom-placed FC Metz.