Struggling Bordeaux welcome Lyon to the Stade Matmut-Atlantique on Sunday evening for the final match of Ligue 1's matchweek 17.
After a poor run of results, the hosts sit in the relegation playoff spot, just one point above bottom side Saint-Etienne, whilst the visitors are very much in mid-table, currently sitting in 10th.
Match preview
A change of manager over the summer does not appear to have had the desired effect for Bordeaux.
After three disappointing seasons saw them finish in the bottom half - 14th, 12th and 12th - the owners of the South-West club decided to bring in former Switzerland boss Vladimir Petkovic to turn things around.
With just two victories from their 16 league matches so far, Les Girondins now find themselves in the relegation playoff place and having lost three of their last four games.
The matches have generally been entertaining encounters, at least - a 3-2 loss to PSG was followed by a 3-3 draw in which they threw away a two-goal lead, and Wednesday's trip to Strasbourg produced seven goals.
Hwang Ui-jo's opener after seven minutes promised much for the visitors, but they found themselves 3-1 down by half time and a fourth goal for Les Coureurs early in the second half killed the game off, with the score at 5-2 when the final whistle went.
Lyon have also produced some high-scoring games in recent weeks, but found themselves conceding more than they scored in their midweek game.
Les Gones were playing their first home game behind closed doors, as a result of their abandoned match against Marseille a fortnight ago, in which Dimitri Payet was struck by a Lyon fan's bottle.
Perhaps feeling the absence of their supporters, Peter Bosz's side fell behind to Reims early in the second half. Karl Toko Ekambi netted his 11th goal in all competitions this season to equalise 10 minutes later, but the game was to have a final sting in the tail for the hosts.
Les Rouges et Blancs substitute Hugo Ekitike struck in the 93rd minute to condemn Lyon to a first home defeat under the management of Bosz.
Incredibly, the loss of that one point meant they now sit 10th rather than level on points with sixth-placed Strasbourg, and they are also just one point ahead of Lyon in 12th in a very tight midtable.
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Team News
Bordeaux remain without forward Josh Maja and experienced centre-back Laurent Koscielny, with the pair continuing to battle injuries.
Mexer and Stian Rode Gregersen should continue to partner up at the back in the absence of the latter, while Alberth Elis could again lead the line.
Lyon defender Sinaly Diomande is expected to miss up to a month out with a badly-sprained ankle, with Malo Gusto, Jerome Boateng, Jason Denayer and Emerson set to line up in a back four.
Leo Dubois is also sidelined for around the same length of time, and Lenny Pintor and Jeff Reine-Adelaide are long-term absences with ACL injuries.
Bordeaux possible starting lineup:
Costil; Pembele, Mexer, Gregersen, Mangas; Otavio, Onana; Dilrosun, Adli, Oudin; Elis
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lopes; Gusto, Boateng, Denayer, Emerson; Guimaraes, Caqueret; Ekambi, Paqeuta, Aouar, Dembele
We say: Bordeaux 1-3 Lyon
Whether you go with the pattern of their Ligue 1 form (WLWLWL) or of their form in all competitions (WWLWWL), it indicates Lyon are set for a win. Bordeaux's form in general backs that up and we are predicting a high-scoring affair with all three points heading back to Lyon.
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