Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Ligue 1 football.

After two previous brilliant days of French top-tier football, today we will see Bordeaux host Saint-Etienne last today, before AS Monaco attempt to move to within three points of league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, when they take on Marseille at the Stade Louis II. First however though, our attention is at the Stade de Gerland, where Lyon host Evian TG.

This local derby brings us two teams who are fighting for very different agendas. Lyon can continue their push for a European spot today and provisionally go fifth in the table with a victory here today over their neighbours. Meanwhile, Evian are floating above the relegation zone, but a win at the Stade de Gerland would put a nice little six-point gap between them and the bottom three. It's all to play for.

Evian won the reverse fixture of this match 2-1 in August, but quite a lot has changed since then. After a shocking start to the campaign, which saw them knocked out of the Champions League playoffs as well as suffer several league defeats, Lyon have begun 2014 in awesome fashion and remain the only French side to be competing in four different competitions this season. Evian have slid the other way, and have landed themselves in a relegation dog fight having enjoyed a fine start to the term. Both need a win today.

Through to the Round of 32 of the Europa League and the semi-finals of the Coupe de la Ligue, Lyon have also advanced to the last 16 of the Coupe de France, after coming from behind to beat fourth-tier minnows Yzeure in midweek thanks to goals from Jimmy Briand, Yoann Gourcuff and Steed Malbranque. Everything points to a home win today, with Lyon on a run of five consecutive wins in 2014, while Evian haven't tasted victory since mid-December. But you just never know in Football.

Right, let's bring you the team news, starting with the hosts.

LYON XI: Lopes, Bedimo, Bisevac, Umtiti, Zeffane, Fofana, Gonalons, Gourcuff, Grenier, Gomis, Lacazette

Remi Garde has rung the changes to the team that won in the Coupe de France in midweek, making eight alterations.

The only players to keep their places are defenders Milan Bisevac and Mehdi Zeffane, as well as the in-form midfielder Yoann Gourcuff.

Captain Maxime Gonalons, Clement Grenier, Bafetimbi Gomis and Alexandre Lacazette all return to the team today.

So with all those changes, here are the Lyon substitutes.

LYON BENCH: Vercoutre, Kone, Fekir, Malbranque, Mvuemba, Tolisso, Briand

So that's what Lyon have to offer. Now to check what they come up against this afternoon.

EVIAN XI: Laquait, Angoula, Djadjedje, Mensah, Sabaly, Wass, Kone, Sorlin, Benezet, Berigaud, Nsikulu

Pascal Dupraz makes just one enforced switch to the Evian team that earned a goalless draw at Rennes last time out.

On-loan striker Pape Amodou Sougou is serving a suspension, so Clarck Nsikulu comes in for him.

Evian are also without the injured Eric Tie Bi. But here is what Dupraz has in reserve.

EVIAN BENCH: Hansen, Cambon, Mongongu, Barbosa, Bertoglio, Boccara, Ruben

So those are your two squads today.

The teams are just making their way into the tunnel. It's probably worth pointing out that Lyon have never lost this fixture at home, which just goes to show you the task at hand for Evian today.

Here they come then, out onto the field, and we're just minutes away from the start of this match.

Lyon are in their all-white first kit, while Evian are sporting their all-red away strip. The officials are in all-black: no chance of a colour clash today.

KICKOFF! Evian, playing from right to left, get the game started.

The game is still yet to settle really in these early stages, but Lyon have seen more of the ball thus far.

More of the same, an even start. Evian are now having a bit more of the ball, but neither keeper has been tested yet.

Evian starting to take control, and have managed to put in a couple of balls into the box. Nothing of any real note so far though.

SAVE! First real chance of the match and it's gone Evian's way. Lyon clear a free kick away but only as far Wass. He floats the ball back into the box where the defender Angoula beats the offside trap and brings the ball down. He manages to get his shot away, but it was straight at Lopes. Wake-up call for Lyon.

Lyon now go up the other end and win a corner. This game has been scrappy so far, but that chance for Evian may have lit a fire in the belly of the hosts.

Grenier swings in the corner from the left and it causes some problems. Both Djadjedje and Laquait go for the ball, with the latter just managing to rise above the defender and punch the delivery away.

Evian win another free kick from a long way out on the left. It's closer to the halfway line than the goal, but Sorlin is going to launch this one into the box.

Evian have the big boys at the back forward for this one, but Lyon can deal with the ball in at the first attempt.

Lyon find the breakthrough, and it's Gomis with his 10th goal of the season. Lyon have a corner which takes a touch off a group of bodies and bobbles towards the edge of the box. Gomis, running away from goal, gets to the ball first and smashes it low on the turn past Laquait and into the back of the net.

So how will Evian respond? They've probably just shaded this match so far, but Lyon are in front.

As things stand, Lyon would move up to fifth place with a win, ahead of Marseille's match with Monaco later on.

Evian have responded reasonably well and are trying to attack Lyon at every possibility.

Another free kick from range has been awarded to Evian. This one is, again, out of the left touchline. Sorlin to take.

Sorlin floats in another teasing ball towards the back post, with Evian's defenders again coming forward, but it's too easy for Lyon to clear once more.

CLOSE! Grenier hits a free kick from outside the box for Lyon at goal. It looks a relatively straight-forward catch for Laquait, but the ball swerves wildly at the last second, and the goalkeeper simply blocks it in front of him. Evian then survive a mini scramble.

Lyon have upped the tempo slightly since going ahead, and they look keen on doubling their lead before the break.

It just seems to be in the final third that Evian are lacking. They are working the ball very well up to the box, but just can't seem to break through the Lyon defence.

CHANCE! Djadjedje is forced into a shot from range as Evian fail to break down the Lyon defence, but it's well wide of the right post.

RED CARD! This is a bizarre moment, but a very silly one from Mensah that sees Evian reduced to 10 men. Mensah is booked for going through the back of Gomis in an aerial challenge and he is booked for it. Mensah is furious with the referee, refuses to let him walk away and screams as the official. What follows is a second yellow and a red card. Pascal Dupraz will be fuming with his defender.

Evian's task just got a whole lot harder. A goal and a man down at Lyon.

That could well have wrapped up the win for Lyon before the break as Evian are instantly made to pay for that sending off. Fofana makes the tackle in the Evian half and the ball then rolls into the path of Lacazette just inside the box on the left. He allows Laquait to rush off of his line, before executing a fine first-time chip over the goalkeeper's head and into the back of the net. Superb finish. Game over? I don't want to speak too soon, but I think so.

We will have one added minute.

EVIAN CHANGE: Dupraz has been forced into making a change as a result of that sending off. He's taken off one of his strikers in Berigaud, and replaced him with the defender Mongongu.

Well Evian certainly have it all to do after the break. They started the match well, but it's all fallen apart since they conceded the first goal.

Two goals and a man down Evian find themselves now, after Mensah was sent off in between goals from Gomis and Lacazette. The result must surely be done and dusted by now.

The teams are reemerging from the tunnel for this second half.

KICKOFF! Lyon, playing from right to left, get the second half up an running.

Evian are made a decent start to this second half and on the attack. If they could get an early goal, then that would really make things interesting.

SAVE! Good effort from Benezet, who allows the ball to roll across his feet before smashing a shot from the edge of the D. The power of the shot seems to stun Lopes, who flaps the effort just in front of him, before Bisevac can hack the danger clear.

Decent run from Gomis, albeit with an air of fortune, to get away from two defenders, but his second touch is too heavy and allows Laquait to gather the ball.

LYON CHANGE: First alteration of the match from Garde, who withdraws Gourcuff and sends on Arnold Mvuemba.

Given the situation in this match, Lyon can afford to give early rests to one or two of their star men at the moment, hence the Gourcuff substitution.

The game is at a pretty steady pace at the moment. Evian are doing the best they can with 10 men, but Lyon just have that extra option when in possession.

Cambon, who I forgot to mention came on for Kone just after half time for Evian, catches Gonalons in the face with an elbow as they both compete in an aerial challenge. It's completely accidental, but that doesn't mean it hurt Gonalons any less! The Lyon captain in down at the moment, but he'll be fine.

EVIAN CHANGE: Final swap from Evian then as Cedric Barbosa replaces Youssouf Sabaly.

Lacazette gets his head on a cross at the back post but flicks it wide of the far stick. Gomis was lurking behind his teammate, and was perhaps in a better position.

Lyon have the ball in the back of the net, but it's correctly flagged for offside. It was a really nice goal as well, with some brilliant build-up play. Mvuemba was the man who put the ball in the back of the net, but was offside as Lacazette passed the ball across the face of goal.

It's all Lyon at the moment, who are attacking in numbers at every possibility. It seems a matter of time before they net a third.

LYON CHANGE: Bafetimbi Gomis, who scored the opener for Lyon, is replaced by Jimmy Briand.

20 - Bafétimbi Gomis is the only player to have scored at least one goal against each team currently in Ligue 1 in his career. Panther.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) January 26, 2014

Evian are having a nice spell in the match now and have put in a few troublesome crosses, but they have failed to test Lopes with any of them so far. They've just won a corner.

Lopes comes and flaps at the corner, but does enough to get it away...

...and from that Evian corner, Lyon can counter and put the game to bed. Braind races down the left, before seeing Lacazette unmarked at the back post. He rolls the ball across the face of goal, for Lacazette to slot home first time.

LYON CHANGE: Final Lyon substitution as Lacazette is taken off to a standing ovation. Fekir comes on in his place.

Lacazette has been superb for Lyon this season and could possibly be playing his way into the next France squad. Don't see why he doesn't have a chance of going to the World Cup, especially if he keeps this up.

SAVE! Fekir has a chance to make it four, but Laquait is quickly off his line to make the block.

Evian are still plugging away and trying to get a goal. They have a free kick on the right which ends with a shot just wide. Not sure that they're going to get it.

Lyon have the chance to add another on the break, and have an extra man in the attack. But they suffer a breakdown in communication, tackling themselves (if you get what I mean), and allow Evian to clear.

So a comfortable win for Lyon against their neighbours thanks to their devastating front two.

Lacazette added a brace to Gomis' opener, with Mensah being sent off with the score at 1-0.

That's it from me for this match, but I'll be back in 40 minutes for coverage of Bordeaux vs. Saint-Etienne. Stick around on Sports Mole.