Fatigue factor on Garde´s mind

Lyon coach Remi Garde hopes his side can overcome their midweek UEFA Europa League exertions when they play Lorient in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Garde’s side needed a 92nd-minute winner from Gueida Fofana to see off Israeli side Ironi Kiryat Shmona 4-3 on Thursday and they have a short turnaround before what is an important league fixture.

Lyon currently sit third on the Ligue 1 table on 14 points, with Lorient snapping at their heels in fourth.

“We will try to recover as much as possible,” Garde said.

“The match against Lorient will be difficult. We will have to adapt very quickly to the (artificial) surface (at Lorient’s stadium) on Sunday. This is a factor which won’t help our short recovery time (following Thursday’s Europa League win in Israel).

“I think there is determination, and I know we have the quality. So it will be an open game and very interesting to see how our players adapt to the challenge.”