Dijon VS Lyon, pick the away team

Match Time：2/4/2021 04:00 Thursday  (GMT+8)

France Ligue 1 --  Dijon   VS   Lyon

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Two teams separated by 17 places and 31 points in the Ligue 1 table will go head-to-head in Wednesday's encounter as Dijon welcome Lyon to the Stade Gaston-Gerard.

The hosts are facing a second title-chasing team in a matter of days after falling to a 1-0 defeat to Lille at the weekend, whereas Lyon scraped a 2-1 win over Bordeaux.

 

Match preview

Had it not been for a calamitous defensive error, Dijon would have taken a point from their showdown with Lille at the weekend, but it was ultimately not to be for the relegation-threatened Hiboux.

Bruno Ecuele Manga was caught in two minds at the back and was soon dispossessed by Yusuf Yazici, who proceded to round Anthony Racioppi before coolly slotting home for the game's only goal.

David Linares's team pride themselves on a solid defensive setup and did well to restrict Lille to just the one goal on the night, but another defeat means that Dijon have now gone their last five games without a win and are still waiting for their first three points of 2021.

The morale in the Hiboux camp would have already been heavily depleted following a 3-2 defeat to a coronavirus-hit Lorient a few days before, and Les Merlus opened up a three-point gap between themselves and Dijon with their historic win over Paris Saint-Germain, but Nantes' defeat to Monaco means that only three points separate Linares's side from safety.

When Dijon do lose, they do not lose by many - only one of their last 14 matches has ended in defeat by more than one goal - but nullifying a potent Lyon attack will be a huge ask indeed for the relegation-threatened hosts.

Lyon were never going to have it all their own way against a resolute Bordeaux outfit at the Groupama Stadium, but a 5-0 derby thrashing of Saint-Etienne the week before would have done wonders for their confidence.

Nevertheless, both sides seemed destined to come away with a point after Samuel Kalu cancelled out Karl Toko Ekambi's first-half opener, but in the dying embers of the match, Leo Dubois's cross-cum-shot cannoned in off the post to send the title-chasing Gones into delirium.

It was far from a classic goal-laden performance that supporters have become accustomed to from this Lyon side, but having navigated the Girondins task with exceptional professionalism, they can look forward to less daunting fixtures against Dijon, Strasbourg, Brest and Montpellier in the coming weeks.

Rudi Garcia's men leapfrogged PSG in the table with that win and remain one point clear of the champions, but they are two points off current leaders Lille, who are facing a potential banana skin of a match against Bordeaux two hours before Lyon take to the field.

Anything other than a win for Lille opens the door for Lyon - who boast a superior goal difference - to leapfrog their opponents in the table, and a Memphis Depay-inspired Gones taught Dijon a footballing lesson with a 4-1 win earlier in the campaign, during which the Barcelona-linked attacker scored a hat-trick.

 

Dijon Ligue 1 form: WDDDLL

Lyon Ligue 1 form: WWDLWW

 

Team News

Dijon lost attacker Roger Assale to a muscular injury after 25 minutes against Lille, and Linares has confirmed that he will not be available for this tie.

Eric Ebimbe should therefore earn an immediate recall to the right flank, while Manga is expected to keep his place in defence despite his costly mistake against Lille.

Didier Ndong and Wesley Lautoa both played the full 90 at the weekend, so one of the midfield duo could be granted a rest if Linares opts to bring Pape Cheikh back into the XI.

Lyon also lost a key player to injury in the last round of fixtures, with commanding centre-back Jason Denayer limping off after suffering an apparent thigh injury.

The defender is almost certain to miss out here, so Sinaly Diomande is set to deputise in the heart of defence alongside the experienced Marcelo.

Garcia will no doubt make some alterations after such a taxing evening against Bordeaux, with two potential changes in midfield seeing Houssem Aouar and Lucas Paqueta replace Bruno Guimaraes and Maxence Caqueret.

 

Dijon possible starting lineup:

Racioppi; Boey, Manga, Panzo, Muzinga; Ndong, Cheikh; Ebimbe, Marie, Celina; Konate

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Lopes; Dubois, Diomande, Marcelo, De Sciglio; Mendes, Aouar, Paqueta; Kadewere, Depay, Toko Ekambi

 

Dijon 0-2 Lyon