Lyon set for derby date after slaying Real

Lyon get back to league action against local rivals Saint-Etienne on Saturday after their 2-1 aggregate win over Spanish giants Real Madrid in the Champions League in mid-week.

The seven-time champions are just two points off leaders Bordeaux, who lost 2-1 at home to Auxerre on Wednesday, and will be looking to build upon their headline-grabbing heroics at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris says their Champions League exploits will not hinder their preparations for the game against 16th-placed Saint-Etienne.

“It was an achievement, but we should not stop there,” the 23-year-old told the club’s official website.

“We need to get back in shape before preparing for the Saint-Etienne game. Is it tough mentally? No. We will be ready.”

Victory over Real, however, came at the expense of injuries to key first-team players, potentially scuppering Lyon coach Claude Puel’s attempts to captialise on Bordeaux’s slip-up.

Defender Jean-Alain Boumsong and midfield man Jean II Makoun are both ruled out, while Michel Bastos and Argentine hitman Lisandro Lopez are also major doubts.

Saint-Etienne captain Loic Perrin warned Lyon not to expect his side to give away easy goals and vowed that they would be be difficult to break down.

“We will stop them from playing by winning the ball back high up the field. We must also maintain the strong defensive performances that we have been putting on in our recent matches,” Perrin said.

Leaders Bordeaux travel to Monaco in a bid to rebuild their lead over the chasing pack and coach Laurent Blanc has called on his players to rediscover their form from earlier in the season after the loss to Auxerre.

“We’ll see if we can bounce back and show we have character. It’s time to demonstrate that we have the necessary maturity, starting with the Monaco game. Our past two performances have been insufficient.”

Promoted Montpellier, second only on goal difference, meet third-placed Auxerre on Saturday as they bid to clinch an unexpected Champions League spot.

“Auxerre are a very good team,” said Montpellier’s Senegalese forward Souleymane Camara.

“When you look at their side, there are some really good players throughout. We are not focusing on one in particular as there is danger everywhere.”

In the weekend’s other games, Le Mans host Nice on Saturday as both teams fight to avoid the drop down to Ligue 2, while 15th-placed Lens travel to ninth-placed Lorient.

Also on Saturday, Nancy take on relegation-threatened Boulogne and under-performing Paris Saint-Germain battle it out with mid-table rivals Sochaux.

Lille, who defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the home leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, host basement club Grenoble on Sunday.

Sunday’s late game sees fifth-placed Marseille, who are now just three points off the top of the table, travel to Toulouse.

Fixtures

Saturday (1800GMT unless otherwise stated)

Le Mans v Nice, Lorient v Lens, Monaco v Bordeaux, Montpellier v Auxerre, Nancy v Boulogne, Paris Saint-Germain v Sochaux, Lyon v Saint-Etienne (2000GMT)

Sunday (1600GMT unless otherwise stated)

Lille v Grenoble, Valenciennes v Rennes, Toulouse v Marseille (2000GMT)