Lyon look to re-gain top spot as they host Bordeaux on January 29

Topics: TV Schedules, Olympique Lyonnais, Bordeaux, Ligue 1

Can Lyon move back to the top of the table as they welcome a Bordeaux side who have been on a kick recently?

Preview: Lyon vs Bordeaux

Given that they will take to the pitch before fellow title contenders PSG and Lille, Lyon will have a golden opportunity to temporarily seize top spot when they welcome Bordeaux on Friday. Les Gones come into this tie having earned a comfortable 5-0 win over Saint-Etienne in the latest installment of the Derby du Rhone, and it was precisely the result Rudi Garcia needed after his side failed to win their two prior fixtures. As a result, Lyon have now sit in third spot, just two points behind PSG and Lille in what has been shaping up to a be a very interesting Ligue 1 title race this season.

Winning this match will be even more crucial considering the fact that both PSG and Lille have been in strong form lately. Both Les Parisiens and Les Dogues have won their last three matches, meaning that during the same course of time they've picked up nine points versus Lille's four. Save for a surprise loss to Metz two weeks ago, Garcia's side have been in excellent form, with that negative result being their only defeat in their last 18 Ligue 1 matches.

However, their upcoming opponents Bordeaux have been in excellent form as of late, with Les Girondins coming into this tie on a three game winning streak. Although the visitors have had their ups and downs this season, they have seen their fortunes improve recently, and largely thanks to the impressive showings from South Korean international Hwang Ui-jo who has been directly involved in five goals in his last five games (four goals, one assist). That includes a crucial brace to fire his side to a 2-1 win over Angers, and as a result Jean-Louis Gasset's men have vaulted up the table into seventh spot, and sit just out of touching distance from a European football berth.

In addition, Bordeaux have really improved on the defensive front, with three clean sheets from their last three away matches. Notably, they earned a point in a scoreless draw against Lyon last year, and more important, have only lost just one of their last seven trips to the Groupama Stadium.

Team news: Lyon vs Bordeaux

Lyon: Both Houssem Aouar and Maxwell Cornet are in doubt for the hosts due to muscular injuries, but other from that Garcia will have everyone else available.

Bordeaux: Meanwhile, the visitors also have pretty much a clean bill of health, with only Mehdi Zerkane and Otávio still on the treatment table.

Match facts: Lyon vs Bordeaux

Lyon have won five of their last six home Ligue 1 games (L1)
In fact, their loss to Metz on January 17th is their only defeat in their last 18 Ligue 1 matches
However, not only have Les Gones drawn their last three home ties against Bordeaux...
...but also Bordeaux will come into this match boasting three sheets from their last trio of away fixtures
Les Girondins have lost just one of their last seven trips to Lyon's home ground