Coupet joins Lyon casualty list

Ligament damage
The French international was hurt in the 65th minute of the 4-2 home victory, following a collision with Fenerbahçe's Tuncay Sanli, and had to be replaced soon after by Nicolas Puydebois. The club's early estimate that the 31-year-old had sustained "bruising to his right knee and likely ligament damage" was confirmed by a scan on Thursday.

New year return
Coupet is therefore ruled out until the new year, with his injury casting a shadow over a successful night's work for the French champions, who claimed their place in the next round of the Champions League with two games to spare. His earliest possible comeback date is 12 January 2005, when the Ligue 1 programme resumes after the winter break. Club medical officer Jean-Jacques Amprino said: "With injuries like this, you are looking at a two-month lay-off. All being well, he should be back after the winter break."

Casualties mount
Lyon, who top Group D by two points from Manchester United FC, their next opponents in England on 23 November, also have injuries to Brazilian defender Claudio Caçapa and striker Sylvain Wiltord. The former is out until January at the earliest with a knee problem, while Wiltord's hamstring could keep him on the treatment table for four weeks. Despite the growing casualty list, Paul Le Guen's team continue to lead Ligue 1 where they are unbeaten after 12 matches.