Nabil Fekir and Maxwell Cornet were surprise omissions from Bruno Genesio's squad for the trip to Jeunes Bourges Nord in the Cope de France's round of 64. Six other Ligue 1 Conforama clubs will also be in action on Saturday.
Saturday, 4 January 2019
Coupe de France, round of 64
Stade Jacques-Rimbault, Bourges
Jeunes Bourges Nord (N3) - Olympique Lyonnais 
- kick-off at 20:55 CET
Although Olympique Lyonnais boss Bruno Genesio has Memphis Depay out suspended, with Rafael, Jérémy Morel and Lucas Tousart out injured or short of match fitness, he has also opted to do without captain Nabil Fekir and livelier forward Maxwel Cornet, left out of the squad for undisclosed reasons.
Thus there could well be an unfix of young faces - including Fekir's younger brother Yassin - as Les Gones look to build on their strong end to 2018 and book a place in the round of 32 with victory away to National 3 (D5) side Jeunes Bourges Nord.
"Cup competitions are always an objective for us here at Lyon," said Genesio, whose side have just completed a training camp in Murcia in Spain. "We have to start this competition looking to go all the way. The first match of the year is always a dangerous one. We need to prepare well with a lot of concentration and application."
Regional-league showcase
Meanwhile, OL's neighbours Lyon Duchère, who ply their trade in the sixth division, play host to exciting Ligue 1 Conforama newcomers Nîmes Olympique while elsewhere in France, Angers SCO get Saturday started with their trip to face D6 side Viry Chatillon ES.
Amiens SC face a potentially stiffer test at home to Domino's Ligue 2 outfit Valenciennes FC, who will be looking to turn their season around after slipping to 18th with a winless run of four league matches to close out 2018. Guingamp hit the road for Pontivy while Montpellier, Caen and Dijon also look to make its through to the next round away to sixth-division opposition.
