Lyon coach Puel reveals some cards for League Cup clash

Lyon's Claude Puel has gone against his usual practice to name a part of his starting line-up for Tuesday's last 16 French League Cup clash at home to Metz.

The coach of the reigning seven-time French league champions said that keeper Remy Vercoutre and Brazilian midfielder Fabio Santos would start the fixture at their Gerland stadium.

Sidney Govou, who returned to competition in Saturday's 1-0 victory at Monaco, will be available for the match though central defenders Mathieu Bodmer and John Mensah are both out of action with groin injuries.

Bordeaux meanwhile will have to field their third-choice keeper Kevin Olimpa for their home clash against Guingamp.

The 20-year-old has been drafted in by coach Laurent Blanc to make up for the absences of first-choice Ulrich Rame with a groin injury, and second-choice Mathieu Valverde, who suffered concussion in the 2-0 victory over Auxerre on Saturday.

The 19-year-old Gilles Meslien from one of Bordeaux's lower league teams will be on the bench as a substitute.

Last year's finalists Lens, who are playing in the French second division this season following relegation, play at Sochaux.

Controversy in last season's competition, and spilling over to this season's event, concerned Lens, who lost 2-1 to Paris Saint Germain in the 2007/08 final at the Stade de France on March 29.

One banner in the stadium shown by PSG fans aimed at Lens's northern French supporters read: “Paedophiles, unemployed, inbreds. Welcome to the home of the northern Frenchmen.”

PSG were subsequently banned from this season's competition, then reinstated, but their eventual permission to defend their trophy is still an emotive topic in French footballing circles.

French League Cup last 16

Tuesday

Sochaux v Lens, Bordeaux v Guingamp, Vannes v Auxerre, Nice v Creteil, Montpellier v Chateauroux, Lyon v Metz

Wednesday

Le Havre v Rennes, Paris Saint Germain v Nancy