L1 - J24 - OL v. Lorient [R]

[Allez Lyonnais]

Champions League tie with Roma is coming up awfully fast and we need a win to start gaining momentum. Let's get back on our feet!

OL

Group: Coupet, Vercoutre - Squillaci, Müller, Berthod, Clerc, Réveillère, Caçapa, Abidal - Källström, Ben Arfa, F.Malouda, Fabio Santos, Juninho - Fred, Govou, Baros, Remy

Absentees: Cris, Tiago (suspended), Toulalan, Diarra, Benzema, Wiltord (injured)

Probable line-up:

-------------------Baros-----------------
--Malouda------------------------Govou--
-----------Kallstrom-----Juninho-----------
-------------------Santos-----------------
-Abidal---------------------------Reveillere
------------Muller--------Squillaci----------
-------------------Coupet-----------------

Lorient

Group: Re.Riou, Cappone - Jallet, Ciani, Genton, Medjani, Moullec, Morel - Mansouri, Abriel, Yesso, Ewolo, Le Pen, Taïder - Saïfi, Gignac, Marlet, Bourhani

Absentees: Marchal (suspended), Audard, Boutruche, Barry, Namouchi, Pinard, Recorbet (injured)

Probable line-up:

---------------Gignac----------------------
-----------------------Saifi----------------
-Le Pen---------------------------Mansouri-
------------Abriel-------Ewolo--------------
-Morel--------------------------------Jallet-
-------------Ciani------Medjani-------------
-------------------Riou---------------------

[Inara]

I really hope Ben Arfa gets some playing time, that Fred scores (Baros too, that would be nice), Juni's fks go back on target, and that Fabio Santos does well.

Scratch that. I won't be expecting fireworks tomorrow. I just want them to get their confidence back.

[Inara]

Lyon 1 - Lorient 0

It wasn't a sweeping victory, but it was still a great match. It's like the players suddenly started clicking together again. Crosses actually reached their target, we had more than 0.5 shots at goal, Juni's FKs were pretty, and FRED!!! It's nice to see him score.

He scored a real beauty. You can see it here: http://ul30.rapidshare.com/files/15911067/gis__l1_j24_-_ol_fcl_-_1_0.avi

Fabio Santos seemed to fit in, and for a first match, I thought he played pretty well. He wasn't too timid, acted offensively a few times, etc. Malouda and Govou had quiet matches, Kallstrom (almost!) scored a second towards the end of the match. And it was nice to see Cacapa back. You could tell having him back cheered the other players (even if he did have a miskick :eek: and almost scored an own goal). Baros and Ben Arfa were on the bench the entire time.

[Allez Lyonnais]

The Lyon machine has finally started working again! Woo hoo!

Now it's important that we be able to duplicate this success when we travel to Lille next week. This trip will be our last preparation for the long-anticipated clash in Roma.

[DaeHaMinGuk]

About DAMN TIME we finally won a match!

[guignol]

i had to go alone since junior had the flu (great way to start vacation, missing a trip to gerland w/ 39° fever!)... he listened to the radio and got the impression that OL played a very iffy match with only fred's humdinger saving them.

what i saw was much more encouraging. the middle of the game was flat, but after all OL was ahead! and they really zinged the ball around and dominated in the first 20' and last 20'. juni and fred have their confidence back and it seemed catching. caçapa made a huge blunder that just went wide, but otherwise put in an honorable performance, and squillaci was great once again.

it was disquieting to see govou replaced by clerc; since he was playing well enough the move looked defensive, but the punch OL showzed in the last 20 minutes (their best!) was reassuring. and clerc wasn't put in to double up with RVR (who also played well), he went resolutely forward.

[lefutur]

wow. what a goal by fred. :eek: :cool: :D

[guignol]

wow. what a goal by fred. :eek: :cool: :Dit may look at first like a crazy idea and a blind bit of luck, but actually it was almost methodical. i think fred knew when he saw the ball coming off coupet's foot that he had a shot if he pulled off the trap, and when that happened the rest was already history.

[lefutur]

lets hope they can keep the momentum going against Lille

[navid90]

wow:rolleyes: offcourse our luck we play lille right before a champions league clash ....of all the teams in league 1 to play before a champions league away match it had to be lille

[lefutur]

wow:rolleyes: offcourse our luck we play lille right before a champions league clash ....of all the teams in league 1 to play before a champions league away match it had to be lille


yeah but a win would firmly put OL back in the drivers seat.

I say........bring it on!

[guignol]

yes, lille then rome... it's clash time! if OL wants to prove their recent spell was a fluke and that they really are one of the biggest teams in europe, this week is custom made and comes exactly at the right time.