French league leader Lyon heads into Sunday's home match against Auxerre high on confidence following a strong midweek performance against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
For the second season running, Lyon has qualified for the knockout stage of Europe's top club competition by winning its group _ this time with a match to spare following Tuesday's 2-2 draw at Madrid. The nine-time European champion has not beaten Lyon in the last four meetings, losing twice.
``From what I saw in the match, the high tactical level we played at, this is very encouraging for the future,'' Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said. ``Coach Gerard Houllier is at the summit of his art.''
Houllier must now get his players focused on Auxerre.
Bidding for a sixth straight title, Lyon has a 12-point lead, with only one defeat in 14 games for 37 points. Lille, which hosts improving AS Monaco on Saturday, is second with 25.
Lyon has three forwards missing, with Fred and Karim Benzema both likely out until the new year and Sidney Govou recovering from a thigh strain.
Norwegian John Carew will again lead Lyon's attack against Auxerre _ and he earned praise for his performance against Madrid, where he scored the opener.
``John Carew was enormous,'' France goalkeeper Gregory Coupet said. ``He was like a (New Zealand rugby) All Black. He was just too strong for them. They kept fouling him.''
Auxerre is coming off a 2-2 tie with Scotland's Rangers in UEFA Cup action on Thursday. Ireneusz Jelen and Daniel Niculae scored to give Auxerre leads on two separate occasions only to have Rangers even the score, and advance with the tie to the third round of the UEFA Cup.
In Saturday's other matches, it is Troyes versus Marseille; Bordeaux versus Saint-Etienne; Lille versus Monaco; Lorient versus Sochaux; Nice versus Sedan; and, Toulouse versus Rennes.
Also on Sunday, Le Mans hosts Lens, Valenciennes faces Nancy, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) travels to Nantes under increasing pressure after PSG's worst ever start to a season.
Lens, Nancy and PSG were all in UEFA Cup action Thursday night. Lens drew 1-1 with Denmark's OB Odense and Nancy tied FC Basel of Switzerland at two, while PSG fell 4-2 to Israel's Hapoel Tel Aviv.
The 1996 European Cup Winners' Cup champions are in 14th place in the French league with only 16 points from 14 matches. PSG president Alain Cayzac continues to stand by coach Guy Lacombe _ for now.
``I will do everything to justify my president's faith in me,'' Lacombe told PSG's website. ``My personal happiness is not an issue. The team is more important than anything else.''
A defeat would leave PSG closer to the relegation zone, and pull Nantes out of it.
``We have to show the desire to go and claim a victory,'' Lacombe said. ``I hope we can offer our fans a victory.''
It could be Lacombe's last game in charge if PSG loses. Cayzac has called the match ``decisive'' in PSG's season.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
