Panoramic
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
LYON  Lloris Reveillere, Lovren, Kone, Cissokho Bastos, Gonalons, Kallstrom, Briand Lisandro, Gomis | MARSEILLE  Mandanda Azpilicueta, Nkoulou, Mbia, Morel Diarra, Cheyrou Amalfitano, Valbuena, A.Ayew Brandao |
Lyon boss Remi Garde is without Yoann Gourcuff, Ederson and John Mensah through injury, and the trio have been left out of the party to travel to the capital for the Coupe de la Ligue final.
Club captain Cris revealed earlier this week that he is fit for the showpiece at the Stade de France after initially being ruled out for a month, and the Brazilian is included in the squad. Michel Bastos is expected to return to the starting XI after sitting out the 2-1 win over Auxerre last Saturday.
Olympique de Marseille's Didier Deschamps is able to recall a number of players who were rested in Wednesday's 1-3 defeat to Ligue 1 leaders Montpellier.
Cesar Azpilicueta has won his fitness battle and is set to line-up in Paris, with Jeremy Morel, Mathieu Valbuena, Morgan Amalfitano and Andre Ayew all set to be renamed in the starting XI after all being named on the bench on Wednesday.
Striker Loic Remy is still a major doubt with a thigh injury, and strikers Brandao and Andre-Pierre Gignac are ready to deputise for him, with the Brazilian most likely to be used by Deschamps.
With OM suffering 11 defeats in their last 12 games, Saturday represents the last chance for the Provence club to qualify for the Europa League after languishing in 9th place in Ligue 1.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Olympique Lyonnais sit in fourth place in Ligue 1 after being Auxerre 2-1 last week, courtesy of two Lisandro penalties.
- Remi Garde's men beat Lorient 4-2 after extra-time in their semi-final. Jimmy Briand scored in the 94th minute to force an extra 30 minutes in which Bafetimbi Gomis and Alexandre Lacazette added two more to seal a final berth.
- Lyon have won the Coupe de la Ligue for the one and only time in 2001, having finished runners-up in 1996 and 2007 respectively.
- Les Gones are unbeaten against Marseille in their last four encounters.
- Olympique de Marseille occupy ninth place in Ligue 1 after suffering yet another defeat in their 3-1 reverse to league leaders Montpellier on Wednesday.
- Marseille have not lost a Coupe de la Ligue match since September 2008, winning the 2010 and 2011 editions of the trophy.
- Didier Deschamps' men are seeking an unprecedented third straight cup victory, and will be the first side to do so if they win on Saturday.
- Loic Remy is the top scorer of the competition with four goals.
Prediction
The Coupe de la Ligue final promises to be a mouthwatering clash with two of France's biggest teams participating in the showdown. Form has a big part to play, given Lyon's great run since their Champions League elimination. Match that with OM's shocking record of 11 defeats in 12, and it would be hard to see the Provence club win the cup for an unprecedented third time. A close match, but OL should prosper.
Editor's Prediction
Lyon 2-1 Marseille 
