Lyonnais vs Lorient preview - Lorient seek return to winning ways

Posted Wednesday, September 24, 2014 by PA

Lyon and Lorient go head to head in Ligue 1 on Wednesday with both sides on equal points but seemingly heading in different directions.

After losing three of their opening four matches, Lyon appear to have turned their form around with a win over Monaco and a hard-earned draw at champions Paris Saint Germain.

In contrast, Lorient took seven points from their first four games but have struggled of late, with consecutive defeats coming against Montpellier and Reims.

Les Merlus are still adjusting to life under new coach Sylvain Ripoll, who took over in May after the club had finished eighth in the table last season.

"There are still many matches to be played but it starts to get more important now because we are in a difficult period," Lorient goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte told the club's official website.

"We need to take points and fast but there is no cause for alarm.

"We have seven points but we need more important victories if we are to remain in the race for the top places."

Lorient, who are 12th in table and currently ahead of Lyon on goal difference, will take heart from their shock 1-0 victory at the Stade de Gerland towards the end of last season.

"As a player you want to bring down the big teams," Lecomte said.

"But I know it will be difficult against Lyon - it's a great team with a lot of young players like us.

"It will be a good game - perhaps more open than against Reims - and will have to impose our game against a strong team."

Lecomte added: "For us and our confidence, it would be good to beat Lyon - we will need to be solid enough stay in the game until the end of the match."

Lyon have ground to make up if they are to challenge for Champions League qualification this season.

Hubert Fournier's side are nine points behind league leaders Marseille but the Lyon boss believes his players can take confidence from their last two outings.

"We have shown what we can do and we have shown our potential against the two best teams in the league," Fournier told Lyon's official website.

"It hasn't made up for our poor results in August but it bodes well for the future."