Lyonnais vs Stade Rennais FC preview - Fournier: Rose could start

Posted Saturday, August 09, 2014 by PA

Lyon boss Hubert Fournier has revealed that Lindsay Rose has a chance of lining up against Rennes in Sunday's Ligue 1 opener, but Henri Bedimo will definitely be sidelined.

The pair picked up knocks during Lyon's 2-1 win over Mlada Boleslav in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League third-round qualifying tie on Thursday.

That result clinched a comfortable 6-2 scoreline on aggregate, but it looked like it would come at the hefty price of a double defensive blow only days before the domestic campaign gets under way.

However, while left-back Bedimo is guaranteed to miss the start of the season, the Lyon coaches remain hopeful that summer signing Rose, who joined from Valenciennes, can recover in time.

"Henry will be missing three weeks minimum. For Lindsay it should be fine but we will check again tomorrow," Fournier, who took over at the Stade de Gerland in May, told reporters.

Lyon also found out on Friday that they will face Romanian side FC Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League play-offs to battle for a place in the competition's group stage.

Fournier added he was disappointed that his side will play the first leg at home and predicted that the second leg will be a feisty encounter.

"I wanted a return leg at home, in the Gerland, but it will be at their place. I think we can expect a lively game in Romania," he said.

Rennes boss Philippe Montanier used his pre-match press conference to confirm that there is no place for Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik at the club.

The Cameroon defender was suspended after confrontations with supporters earlier this summer and Montanier said he does not feature in his plans this season.

"We seek a solution for him, him too. He prepares well with us, but we did not count on this season", Montanier is quoted as saying by www.ouest-france.fr.

Lyon ended last season in fifth while Rennes were safely docked in mid-table.