Lyon captain Maxime Gonalons has insisted that three points at Evian TG this weekend are imperative to get their season back on track.

Remi Garde's young side started their Ligue 1 campaign brightly with successive wins, but fell to a shock 1-0 defeat at Reims last weekend.

That loss was swiftly followed by disappointment in their Champions League qualifier against Real Sociedad, with Carlos Vela's brace on Wednesday ensuring the Basque side triumphed 4-0 on aggregate.

Gonalons believes that Lyon need a swift response to quickly counter negative feeling surrounding back-to-back defeats, warning that Evian will provide a stern test when the two teams meet tomorrow.

He told reporters at a pre-match press conference: "It is a big game on Saturday against Evian, we have to get back into the flow to stop this negative spiral.

"It is not easy because we do not have a lot of recovery time. It is never easy to play this game, it is a small derby.

"They have a great desire, they go ahead and do not let go."

Les Gones sit third in Ligue 1 at this early stage of the campaign, three points behind pace setters Marseille, who have taken maximum points form their first three matches.