Caen vs Lyonnais preview - Fournier urges Lyon to keep belief

Lyon coach Hubert Fournier will not change his approach despite falling behind Paris St Germain in the Ligue 1 title race.

Having led the way for a long period, Lyon have seen PSG win eight of their last 10 fixtures to take a three-point lead with three games to go.

That leaves Fournier and his side with a tough task to deny Laurent Blanc's men a third successive title, but the OL coach told L'Equipe: "It doesn't change anything. We have an obligation to win to keep believing.

"Whether or not Paris win against Guingamp on Friday, it does not affect our intention to win our last three matches.

"They have a three-point lead over us and the percentages are in their favour. We have to win our last three matches to affect our destiny.

"We know it will be difficult but we will do all we can to get there."

With third-placed Monaco six points behind Lyon, it appears to be a straight two-team shoot-out for top spot and Fournier added: "We need one win to assure direct qualification for the Champions League and it would be best to do that as soon as possible.

"We need to beat Caen and we know it will be a difficult task against a team playing for their survival."

Caen, indeed, are just a point above the relegation zone - albeit four places clear in 14th in a congested survival battle.

With Bastia to come before they end their season against Evian, the team currently third-bottom, Saturday's game is by far their toughest on paper but coach Patrice Garande is not going in without hope.

He said: "We must first of all defend well but I do not want to say we have nothing to lose.

"That is what makes football so good, anything can happen."

Defender Damien Da Silva added: "We know very well that Lyon are better than us but we have our part to play.

"It is a match like all others, we will play it like it is our last because all points are important."

Da Silva's defensive partner Alaeddine Yahia will not play again this season with a calf injury. Felipe Saad misses out with a similar problem while illness keeps Yrondu Musavu-King out of the line-up.

Lyon will be without forward Clinton N'Jie and playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, though Fournier hopes to have one or both available before the end of the season. Defender Milan Bisevac will have to wait until next term.