L’Équipe are reporting that Troyes loanee Mama Baldé could be set to make his first start for Lyon this weekend as Les Gones search for their first win of the Ligue 1 season. They are the only team in Europe’s top 5 leagues to not have led a match thus far this season.
Mama Baldé will come into the starting lineup to replace club captain Alexandre Lacazette who will miss the match due to suspension. As Grosso deciphers upon his best starting eleven, he could also hand summer signing Skelly Alvero his first competitive start since he completed a move from Sochaux.
Grosso has also confirmed that Rayan Cherki will start the match after being dropped to the bench for OL’s 1-0 defeat against Brest. Lovren is still unavailable but his compatriot Duje Ćaleta-Car should be fit once again to start and should be expected to replace makeshift centre-back Clinton Mata at the heart of the defence. Mata should return to the right-back position with Kumbedi dropping to the bench.
Lyon likely lineup v Reims:
Anthony Lopes (GK); Clinton Mata, Sinaly Diomandé, Duje Ćaleta-Car, Nicolás Tagliafico; Maxence Caqueret (C), Corentino Tolisso, Skelly Alvero; Rayan Cherki, Mama Baldé, Ernest Nuamah. (L’Éq)
