Jittery Lyon losing their bite

Seven-point cushion
The four-time champions' decline is relative, and should not be exaggerated. They have lost just once in Ligue 1 all season and still have a seven-point lead over FC Girondins de Bordeaux with a game in hand. However, they must reverse their slide with confidence low and a number of key players missing.

Problems at both ends
Lyon's defensive injury crisis is well documented. Captain Claudio Caçapa and international full-backs Anthony Réveillère and Eric Abidal are all out, with old boy Patrick Müller returning to provide cover in the centre. It is harder to explain their attacking shortfall. In Saturday's 1-1 draw at RC Lens, Sylvain Wiltord's equaliser did not come until 48 seconds before the end of added time. The previous week, Lyon drew a blank against Bordeaux, the first time they had failed to score all season.

'Less convincing'
"The defence does not worry me," said coach Gérard Houllier. "We were less convincing going forward." That is not to say that the defensive absences have not been felt, as Lyon attack and defend as a unit. But reduced goalscoring threat could be a real problem for a side who have conceded the first goal in thirteen matches this term.

Juninho jitters
Since taking the captain's armband from his injured compatriot Caçapa, playmaker Juninho Pernambucano's influence has waned. He has not scored since the turn of the year, his confidence seemingly affected by a relatively disappointing seasonal return of four league goals. The team's jitters were increased by a frantic French Cup tie against AC Ajaccio, where they came from a goal down in extra time to eventually prevail.

Bordeaux ambition
Although none of these troubles are grievous, their cumulative effect has left Bordeaux believing they can overhaul their title rivals. "We'll support them in the UEFA Champions League and hope they go as far as possible, so it tires them out in the league!" said Girondins midfielder Bruno Cheyrou.

Alarm bells
Before travelling to the Philips stadium in Eindhoven for a rerun of last season's UEFA Champions League quarter-final, Lyon face a tough league encounter with FC Nantes Atlantique on Friday. Anything less than three points will have yet more alarm bells ringing at Stade Gerland.