In-form Lisandro targets Marseille scalp

French title rivals Marseille and Lyon will each be hoping to strike a telling blow when they meet on Sunday evening, but it is visitors Lyon who have the momentum.

Lyon, two points behind leaders Lille in third, are the division’s in-form team and have not lost in the league since a 1-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Saint-Etienne on September 25 — a run of 10 matches.

In stark contrast, Marseille are on a three-game winless run and go into the Stade Velodrome showdown two points behind their rivals in fifth.

Key to Lyon’s revival has been the resurgence of Argentine striker Lisandro Lopez, who has scored seven goals in his last seven games.

Redeployed in a left-sided role in support of Bafetimbi Gomis, Lisandro has looked much more like the player who last term netted 15 goals in a fine debut season that saw him crowned the best player in the league.

“I feel like I’ve made up for lost time, particularly physically,” said Lisandro, who was criticised by coach Claude Puel for being overweight when he reported for pre-season training.

“I feel better and better on the pitch. From a personal perspective, everything’s going well. But the important thing is the form of the team.”

Puel has engineered an impressive turnaround since the loss to Saint-Etienne prompted sustained speculation about his future, and Lisandro says the upturn in Lyon’s fortunes has all been down to hard work.

“We work well and don’t discourage each other,” he said.

“There are obviously things to improve but, with time, the team commits less errors and things are getting better. Work is the key to the unbeaten run that we’re on.”

Both Lyon and Marseille experienced inconsistent starts to the season, with Toulouse, Rennes and Lille making the early running, but Lisandro feels it is too early for either side to seriously dent their rivals’ title aspirations.

“The match is very important for morale, but it won’t be decisive for the title,” he said.

Both teams have been hit by injuries to important players in the build-up to the game.

Lyon will be without centre-backs Cris and Pape Diakhate and defensive midfielder Jeremy Toulalan, while right-back Anthony Reveillere is doubtful with a calf problem.

Playmaker Yoann Gourcuff remains sidelined with a calf injury sustained in last month’s Champions League game at Schalke.

Marseille, meanwhile, must do without suspended centre-back Stephane Mbia — sent off at Auxerre last weekend — while Souleymane Diawara is bidding to have a two-match ban for a stamp on Paris Saint-Germain’s Nene last month postponed until after the game.

However, the champions did manage to conclude a timely move for defender Rod Fanni, who was brought in from Rennes on Thursday as cover for injured right-back Cesar Azpilicueta.

Marseille coach Didier Deschamps confirmed that Fanni would feature against Lyon, but said only that he would play “at the back”.

“It’ll be a challenging match but, even if it’d been a less high-profile match, I’d approach it in the same way,” said Fanni, who can also play in central defence.

“It’s still Lyon, with all the media hype around it, but I’m taking it calmy. And I really can’t wait for it.”

Lens? encounter with Caen, planned for Saturday, had been postponed for 24 hours due to heavy snowfall in northern France, according to Ligue 1 website.

Fixtures

Sunday (1600GMT unless otherwise stated):

Lille v Nancy, Sochaux v Bordeaux, Lens v Caen, Marseille v Lyon (2000GMT)