Ligue 1 preview

Remy Vercoutre will be in the Lyon goal when the six-times champions start their campaign by welcoming Auxerre on Sunday. First choice Gregory Coupet, the France

keeper, tore a knee ligament in training on Thursday and will be sidelined for four months.

Sylvain Wiltord's Lyon future remains unclear after the France forward missed this week's official pre-season photo session. Wiltord had been talking to Stade Rennes but Lyon, who have criticised him for poor discipline, said he would not go there.

Nice's locker rooms were hit by burglars during their last training session for Saturday's match away to promoted Caen. Mobile phones and wallets disappeared, as did forward Lilian Laslandes' scooter.

A suspension carried from last season means Girondins Bordeaux playmaker Johan Micoud will miss his side's opener at home to Racing Lens on Saturday. That fixture will be a special occasion both for Lens coach Guy Roux and his Bordeaux counterpart Laurent Blanc. The former France defender, making his training debut, used to play for Auxerre when Roux was the coach there.

Each Ligue 1 club was visited by a referee this week and told what the officials would be particularly watching out for this season. Elbowing is top of the list.

St Etienne officials said on Friday they were hoping to sign former Italy defender Francesco Coco but had still not reached a deal with Internazionale.