Zimbabwean striker eager to break Lyon's unlucky streak against Bordeaux

Lyon slowed down at the beginning of the year, allowing Paris Saint-Germain to take the leading position in Ligue 1, but after only two points in two rounds, last season's Champions League semifinalist defeated Saint-Etienne away last week with 5:0 and announced their awakening. Rudi Garcia's team has two points less than the champion and could get back in the fight for the title in France by the end of the season.

In the last round, the spotlight was on the representative of Zimbabwe, Tino Kadewere, and the Brazilian Marcelo, who scored two goals each against Saint-Etienne. The former champion of France welcomes Bordeaux tonight (23.00) in the first match of the 22nd round. Bordeaux has not been defeated in the previous four away games against Lyon and are having a great sequence of three victories.

Two weeks ago, Lyon was unexpectedly defeated at home by Metz (0:1). It was their first loss in this championship at home after a series of nine undefeated matches (six wins and three draws). The Girondins have been in the middle of the table for years, but this season they are solid, currently in seventh place with a good chance of attacking places that lead to European competitions. Bordeaux is coming to Lyon after three tied victories, with 10 points in the last four rounds.

Brazilian Thiago Mendes, who arrived two years ago from Lille, says that his team is only interested in the title this season.

"I'm back to the level I had at Lille and I want to continue down the same road. I came here with a weight on my shoulders as I was a player who cost a lot of money and that didn't help me. Every time something went wrong I asked questions of myself and I wasn't happy. I spoke to Juninho, my wife and the other players and I realized I needed to lift my head up and keep working in order to get back to my level" said the 28-year-old midfielder.

Midfielder Houssem Aouar will not be able to play for Lyon due to injury. The rest of the team is ready, Brazilian Paqueta also recovered and is expected to be in the rotation while the Ekambi-Depay-Kadewere trio is most probable to attack from the start. Lyon have not lost their last five matches against Bordeaux (two wins and three draws). It is interesting that in the last three games of these two rivals, a draw came in Lyon, and the host has been waiting for the victory against the Girondins at its stadium since February 2016. These two teams have 13 French champion titles each.

FRANCE LIGUE 1 – ROUND 22

Friday

23.00: (1,45) Lyon (4,50) Bordeaux (7,00)

Saturday

19.00: (2,75) Montpellier (3,10) Lans (2,70)

23.00: (2,75) Marseille (2,90) Rennes (2,90)

Sunday

15.00: (2,20) Nice (3,35) Saint-Etienne (3,35)

17.00: (1,75) Angers (3,60) Nimes (4,90)

17.00: (2,35) Brest (3,20) Metz (3,15)

17.00: (12,0) Lorient (7,25) PSG (1,20)

17.00: (2,20) Strasbourg (3,20) Reims (3,50)

19.00: (1,45) Lille (4,30) Dijon (7,75)

23.00: (4,10) Nantes (3,50) Monaco (1,90)

***odds are subject to change