Buoyed by several impressive results in a row, Lyon play host to Monaco looking to extend the good run and revive their Champions League bid.

The Principality club are slowly falling behind PSG in the title chase and their title hopes will be all but over should they fail to win at Stade Gerland.

Lyon are no longer the dominant force in French Ligue 1 having won last of their seven successive titles in 2008, but there have been some promising signs this season.

Les Gones experienced all sorts of problems in the opening exchanges as they were eliminated from the Champions League and largely struggled to hit the ground running in the league.

However, the team started showing improvement at the beginning of December and they have been in pretty good form ever since.

Lyon produced quite a coup in beating Bordeaux away last weekend, having scored two injury-time goals to climb to fifth in the league standings.

And having also hammered Viktoria Plzen 4-1 in the first leg of the Europa League Last 16 stage, les Gones have been made 2.62 (13/8) favourites to see off Monaco as well.

Remi Garde, however, faces serious selection problems given that Clement Grenier and Steed Malbranque are out injured, whilst Yoann Gourcuff and Henri Bedimo are injury doubts.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): A. Lopes – M. Lopes, Bisevac, Umtiti, Bedimo – Gourcuff, Fofana, Gonalons, Ferri – Lacazette, Gomis.

In spite of the heavy summer spending, Monaco did well to mount a serious title challenge upon their return to the elite division, but it looks they won’t be able to keep up with holders PSG.

Injury to star striker Radamel Falcao probably denied Claudio Ranieri’s charges an opportunity to fight for the trophy, but no doubt they will be happy if they can secure automatic Champions League qualification.

Monaco currently sit seven points clear of third-placed Lille and face a tricky tie against revived Lyon, with several important players missing.

And given the 2-0 defeat to Saint Etienne in their previous away fixture, it is not surprising the Principality club are 3.00 (2/1) to win at Stade Gerland.

Claudio Ranieri has confirmed that captain Eric Abidal is likely to return into action, but Jeremy Toulalan misses out through suspension.

Radamel Falcao has been ruled out for the season, whereas January signing Aymen Abdennour has recovered from a thigh problem, but will feature for the reserves this weekend.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-1-2): Subasic – Fabinho, Carvalho, Abidal, Kurzawa – Moutinho, Kondogbia, Obaddi – Rodriguez – Berbatov, Martial.