Ligue 1 preview: More goals on Lyon´s agenda

Olympique Lyon have a chance to close in on Ligue 1 leaders Lille when they host Nancy at the Stade de Gerland on Friday.

Nancy ended a run of three losses in all competitions with a 3-1 league win over relegation rivals Auxerre in their last match, while fifth-placed Lyon crushed fellow top-four hopefuls and local rivals Saint-Etienne in a 4-1 derby victory away from home.

Lyon have scored nine times from their past four games.

If they win they can close the gap to four points on Lille, who are due to travel to the seventh-placed Montpellier.

Lille go into the match on the back of a 2-2 draw at home to Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven in the second round of the Europa League on Thursday.

But they will have to make do without the services of Adil Rami after the France international defender was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Second-placed Stade Rennes are also in action on Sunday, when they travel to Toulouse’s Stadium Municipal.

Toulouse will be without first-choice goalkeeper Mathieu Valverde, who has been ruled out for up to eight days with a minor groin injury.

Back-up keeper Yohann Pele is already a long-term absentee, meaning 19-year-old Marc Vidal will start.

Also on Sunday, struggling Nice play host to fourth-placed Paris Saint-Germain.

On Saturday, 17th-placed Auxerre have a great chance to secure three points when they welcome bottom side Arles to the Stade Abbe-Deschamps.

Lorient, who sit in 11th place, and ninth-placed Bordeaux are tied on 31 points, but either side can break the mid-table logjam with victory at the Stade Yves Allainmat.

Third-placed Marseille welcome Saint-Etienne to the Stade Velodrome, second-bottom Lens host Sochaux and promoted Caen take on Valenciennes.

Tenth-placed Brest, level on points with Lorient and Bordeaux, host relegation-placed Monaco.