Ligue 1 Preview: Fournier hoping for response against Reims

Hubert Fournier wants Lyon to respond strongly to their weekend defeat to Saint-Etienne when they host Reims in Ligue 1 on Thursday.

Lyon saw their 10-match unbeaten run ended by their fierce rivals, who ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on Sunday.

It was the first time Saint-Etienne had defeated Lyon at home in 20 years, as Christophe Galtier’s side put in a dominant display.

With a home clash against Reims – who are unbeaten in their last seven league outings – to come, Fournier implored his players to put the weekend’s loss behind them.

“We came across a Saint-Etienne team that has had 20 years of frustration of not being able to win the derby at home,” he said.

“We’ll see if it’s a good thing to be able to play again on Thursday. We need to show character and another face.

“It’s a good dose of humility that falls upon us.”

Lyon currently occupy third place, level on points with Bordeaux, who defeated Lille 1-0 at the weekend.

Willy Sagnol’s men travel to mid-table Metz, who have lost their last three games, but the Bordeaux boss has been quick to warn against complacency.

“They had a very good start to the championship,” he said. “They may be in a depression for two or three matches but they’re still a complicated team to play against.

“Like all the teams that rise from Ligue 2, they are accustomed to difficult games.”

Both Lyon and Bordeaux are cut slightly adrift of the leading pair of Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain.

Marseille remain a point clear at the top, ahead of their trip to Lorient, while reigning champions PSG visit Lille.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted the winner from the penalty spot in a less-than convincing 1-0 victory over Nice last time out, though Laurent Blanc’s side remain unbeaten in all competitions in 2014-15, with nine successive wins under their belt.

At the opposite end of the table, bottom club Guingamp face a crucial clash with fellow strugglers Caen, while the other two sides in the drop zone – Bastia and Lens – take on Evian and Monaco respectively.

Saint-Etienne, fresh from their derby mauling of Lyon, visit mid-table Montpellier, while Nantes welcome Toulouse and Rennes go in search of a fourth straight win when they travel to Nice.