Lyon vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv Preview - Lloris targets top spot

Posted Tuesday, December 07, 2010 by PA

Lyon goalkeeper Hugo Lloris hopes his side can use the momentum from their last-gasp Ligue 1 victory over Montpellier to claim top spot in Champions League Group B with victory over Hapoel Tel Aviv at Stade Gerland.

Striker Lisandro Lopez struck in stoppage time to seal a win that extends their unbeaten league run to nine games, leaving them just a point behind leaders Lille in fifth.

The French club have already secured their place in the knockout stages of the competition, but defeats at Benfica and Schalke have left them second to the Germans entering the final matchday.

But if Schalke drop points in their final match against Benfica the way would be clear for OL to top the pool.

France international Lloris told Orange Sport: "In the first period (on Saturday), we produced opportunities, and after we were solid. We are very pleased with this victory.

"The most important thing is for us to focus until the end of the year. The mood has been very good from the beginning, and it's stayed solid this season. The players have been far from blameless [for the poor performances] on the field, so we'll try to ramp them up.

"Now we are qualified for the Champions League knockout stages, and why not take first place in the group this week?"

Coach Claude Puel will have Aly Cissokho and Pape Diakhate available again after they were suspended from Saturday's win, but influential midfielders Yoann Gourcuff and Jeremy Toulalan are doubtful with Achilles and thigh injuries respectively.

Despite currently lying bottom of the group Hapoel remain in with a chance of securing third place and a spot in the Europa League.

The Israeli side need to win and hope that Benfica fail to win their clash with Schalke, but they enter the game on the back of a 2-0 defeat to MS Ashdod in their domestic league.

And manager Eli Gutman believes that defeat was down to over-confidence following their 3-0 win over Benfica in their last Champions League clash.

"I have a suspicion that we were a bit arrogant (in this match) because we beat Benfica," he said.