[kompressaur]

2 nice posts there chaps. At this rate i'm gonna have to put all the best weekly posts from The Daily Punt and put them on a feed and let the net enjoy the read.

Good luck tonight. Anyone else got a french fancy?

Lyon, who have been struggling since the beginning of the year with eight points from seven matches, lead the table on 58 points with 12 games remaining.

The only doubt is Portugal midfielder Tiago who has a sore back but Gerard Houllier will be able to count on France winger Wiltord, a proven match-winner.

'Nino', back from a 10-week injury layoff, scored on 90 minutes and earned a decisive penalty in stoppage time as Lyon fought back for a 3-3 draw against Sochaux last weekend.

St Etienne will need to clinch their first home win of the year if they are to end a 13-year winless streak against Lyon at their Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

Les Verts, fifth on 39 points, have lost their last three home games against Monaco, Sedan and Stade Rennes while Lyon are the most efficient team away from their turf this season with 10 victories and three defeats.

"St Etienne are having a good season. They have had a string of poor results lately but their win in Paris proved they were full of qualities," Lyon assistant coach Patrice Bergues told the club's Web site.

"But they seem to have some problems on home turf. We will have to try to take advantage of this," he added.

Later on Saturday, third-placed Toulouse, who thrashed Marseille 3-0 last weekend, visit relegation candidates Valenciennes who will be without coach Antoine Kombouare.

He has been suspended for three matches by the French Professional League for insulting Nice counterpart Frederic Antonetti in a league match last month.

Lille, who are also contesting the Champions League places, will host lowly Troyes without defender Nicolas Plestan and forward Nicolas Fauvergue as both are suspended.

At the foot of the table, troubled Paris St Germain will visit bottom club Sedan without Argentine playmaker Marcelo Gallardo, who has a sore knee.

from Eurosport (to be hotlinked)