OL host Strasbourg with Coupe de la Ligue final four up for grabs

BACKGROUND

After ringing in the new year with a 2-0 win at National 3 side Bourges in the Coupe de France, Olympique Lyonnais take on their next challenge in a tough run of six matches in 26 days by hosting RC Strasbourg in the Coupe de la Ligue quarterfinals.  

THE CHALLENGE

Les Gones are a win away away from reaching the League Cup semifinal for the first time since the 2013-2014 season, when they fell in the final to eventual champions PSG. A victory on Tuesday night would also give Bruno Genesio's squad a boost of confidence ahead of their first Ligue 1 Conforama match of 2019 - Friday against Reims at home, where they'll look to get the second half of the league campaign off on the right foot.

THE OPPONENT

Thanks to a convincing first half of the season, RC Strasbourg currently sit in seventh place in the Ligue 1 Conforama standings. In fact, Thierry Laurey's men have only lost five times in 19 games so far and reached this stage of the tournament by defeating Olympique de Marseille at the Vélodrome on penalty kicks in the previous round. 

WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT

Suspended for last Saturday's win over Bourges in the Coupe de France, Memphis is back in Genesio's squad. The same goes for Maxwel Cornet and Jérémy Morel, who are returning from injury, while Nabil Fekir also returns after resting the previous match. Backup goalie Mathieu Gorgelin will be between the pipes. Meanwhile, Lucas Tousart, Amine Gouiri and Rafael are still nursing their respective injuries and won't take back in the match. As for Strasbourg, Le Racing will be without goalscorer Lebo Mothiba, unable to play due to a knee problem. The good news for Laurey is that Cape Verdean international will return after missing the team's last two matches.