Jean II Makoun has urged Lyon to get back to winning ways against old friends in Ligue 1 this weekend.

Claude Puel's side drew all three games in November but travel to Lille on Sunday only two points behind leaders Bordeaux.

Midfielder Makoun, one of a number of ex-Lille personnel now in the OL camp, told www.ligue1.com: "We can't close our eyes and pretend our bad run hasn't happened. Sometimes we've played with the handbrake on and we haven't put in the effort together."

Playmaker Yoann Gourcuff is set to play his first match for Bordeaux in nearly a month against Paris St Germain on Saturday.

The 23-year-old picked up an adductor injury in the second leg of France's infamous World Cup play-off victory over the Republic of Ireland last month.

In his absence, Bordeaux's unbeaten home run was ended at 39 matches by Valenciennes, although they have since beaten Juventus and Nancy.

PSG striker Mevlut Erding is confident of picking up something from their trip to face the champions after their 5-2 victory over Boulogne yesterday.

"The objective was to take six points off Auxerre and Boulogne and it's mission accomplished," he said on www.ligue1.com. "Now we're looking to take at least a point from our trip to Bordeaux."

Third-placed Auxerre will again be without striker Ireneusz Jelen because of a torn bicep for their meeting with Nancy on Sunday while Julien Quercia is expected to be sidelined until the new year with a groin problem.

Loic Remy may miss Nice's clash against Marseille on Saturday, with coach Didier Olle-Nicolle rating him only 50/50 because of an ankle sprain.

The Mediterranean derby is one of the biggest games of the season for Nice, and goalkeeper David Ospina told www.ogcnice.com: "We know that the stadium will be full, that fans will be there with us, it's very motivating.

"Like any 'clasico', you want to win. We must stay focused and both keep our cool and play with quality."

St Etienne winger Dimitri Payet is fit to face Sochaux after a knee problem but Zargo Toure is set to miss Boulogne's match against Lens after injuring his thigh in the defeat by PSG.

Montpellier striker Victor Hugo Montano is suspended for their meeting with Le Mans but Tino Costa, Emir Spahic and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa return after serving bans.

Surprise package Lorient, who sit fourth in the table, travel to Rennes on Saturday hoping to claim a first victory over their rivals in the league.

Valenciennes coach Philippe Montanier expects his side to put last week's 4-0 defeat by Lille behind them against Monaco on Saturday.

Montanier said on www.asm-fc.com: "It is a severe defeat which hurts. In the same way that victory in Bordeaux was quickly forgotten, it is also, but it serves as a lesson for the next game."

Meanwhile, on Sunday, bottom side Grenoble continue their search for a first league win of the season against Toulouse.