Bordeaux vs Lyonnais - Winning spirit must stay with Bordeaux, says Jaroslav Plasil

Bordeaux captain Jaroslav Plasil has challenged his team to retain focus as they look to continue their impressive recent form with victory over top-four rivals Lyon at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

Jocelyn Gourvennec's side beat Ligue 1 strugglers Lorient on Tuesday night to take their place in the quarter-finals of the Coupe de France for what was a sixth victory in the past eight matches.

Les Girondins have only lost to Paris St Germain in their league outings since December 17, and confidence is high they can produce a positive end to the campaign as they look to close the gap on Lyon, who are four points ahead.

Czech playmaker Plasil, though, knows sustained success will only come with the proper levels of concentration.

"We have to keep the same mindset during matches and training. Competition (for places) is healthy, everyone works for the team. It is important to continue this dynamic," Plasil said on the club's official website, www.girondins.com.

"The group has seen better since the start of 2017. There is a certain spirit that we did not have during all of our matches at the start of the season, and the group must do everything to keep this."

Plasil expects a stern test of just how far the Bordeaux squad have come against a Lyon side which has won all four of their previous games, which included a thrashing of AZ Alkmaar home and away in the Europa League and then a convincing 5-0 win over Metz last weekend.

"Lyon is a team with good offensive qualities, (Alexandre) Lacazette and (Memphis) Depay, these are great players," the Bordeaux captain added.

"They are a direct competitor, you have to win at home against this very good team and the coach will put together the strategy he thinks best to win."

Lyon manager Bruno Genesio believes his players can prove a match for in-form Bordeaux before they then look ahead to a European tie against Italian club Roma.

"This (Bordeaux) is a team which is in shape this year and looks like it has good offensive potential, so it will be a good match to evaluate us in this busy month," Genesio said at a press conference as reported by www.olweb.fr.

"In general, we have been doing well against this type of team.

"I have full confidence in my players and we have to do everything we can to beat a direct competitor for fourth."

Lyon may have scored 20 goals in their winning run but Genesio is determined not to look too far ahead.

"The important thing is to take the matches one after the other and try to win them," he said.

"Confidence will be important when approaching the encounter against Roma and we have been pretty good against the big teams this season.

"On the other hand, we lost a lot of points against the so-called lesser sides, but we are now progressing lately."