Panoramic
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
LYON  Lloris Dabo, Umtiti, Gonalons, Cissokho Kallstrom, Fofana Briand, Gourcuff, Bastos Lisandro Lopez | LILLE  LandreauDebuchy, Chedjou, Rozehnal, BeriaBalmont, Mavuba, Pedretti Cole, Jelen, Hazard |
Olympique Lyonnais are facing a defensive crisis ahead of the visit of Lille to the Stade Gerland on Wednesday evening.
Dejan Lovren and Anthony Reveilliere are both doubtful after struggling with achilles tendon problems, with the latter replaced after an hour in Sunday's 3-1 Coupe de France victory over minnows Lyon-Duchere.
With central defender Cris sidelined, and Bakary Kone, Sidy Kone and John Mensah all departing for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, Remi Garde may need to again rely on the unusual partnering of Samuel Umtiti and Maxime Gonalons in the heart of defence.
Meanwhile, les Gones' attack will again be spearheaded by the resurgent Lisandro who struck a hat-trick at the weekend, with Michel Bastos and Yoann Gourcuff set to be handed starting berths.
Ligue 1 holders Lille face no such injury worries, but may look to rotate their side ahead of a vital clash on Sunday against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.
On-loan Liverpool winger Joe Cole, who dazzled in the 6-0 weekend win over US Chantilly is set to continue in the starting XI, alongside Ireneusz Jelen and Eden Hazard. Top scorer Moussa Sow departs on international duty with Senegal.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Lyon found it slightly difficult in eliminating near neighbours Lyon-Duchere in the Coupe de France on Sunday, winning 3-1.
- Remi Garde's men beat rivals Saint Etienne 2-1 in the last 16.
- Les Gones have only won this tournament once, in 2001, beating Monaco in the final. They were losing finalists in both 1996 and 2007.
- Lille beat minnows US Chantilly 6-0 in the Coupe de France round of 32 at the weekend, with Joe Cole (pictured right) scoring a hat-trick.
- The Ligue 1 holders have never won the Coupe de la Ligue. Rudi Garcia's side have never contested the final, either.
- The current holders are Olympique de Marseille, who won both the 2010 and 2011 editions.
With the hosts facing a defensive crisis, through injury and the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, the onus is certainly on the visitors to take full advantage and march onto the semi-finals of a tournament they've never had the honour of reaching the final.
Les Gones were shaky against minnows at the weekend, whilst Lille were relentess in dispatching their opponents, with the momentum likely to take them into the last four. A narrow victory for les Dogues on the cards.
Les Gones were shaky against minnows at the weekend, whilst Lille were relentess in dispatching their opponents, with the momentum likely to take them into the last four. A narrow victory for les Dogues on the cards.
Editor's Prediction
Lyon 1-2 Lille 
