French League Cup

[Uranus]

Le Mans - Lyon

Both teams in really different situations. Le Mans with significant squad problems. There is large number of missing players due to various reasons(suspend., injury, Africa cup). Le Mans in this situation lost at the weekend at home 0-2 to Sochaux.
Lyon turned 0-1 to 3-1(then 3-2) against Toulouse at the weekend and they are in good form and without squad problems. There is only Keita missing, but the squad is really strong. Lyon will go with strongest line-up today as their motivation is high in this competition.
Motivation, quality, form all on Lyon side, on the other hand big problems on Le mans side and even home ground won't help them IMO.
Odds are falling, but in this situation there is still some value IMO.

Lyon, @ 1,85, Interwetten, 6/10, good luck:)

[Uranus]

PSG - Valenciennes

PSG, @ 2,0, Centrebet, 5/10

PSG finally won at home at the weekend and it has boosting effect for sure. So, they are going in ideal moment into this match. There is no doubt about their motivation IMO, as the league season is over for them and this Cup competition means another chance. The squad is without problems.
Valenciennes are playing surprisingly well, but unfortunatelly only at home. Their record at away is poor.

I feel difference in motivations and another important factor deciding this match should be actual euphoria in home team. Good luck:)

[guignol]

in the other two matches:

- lens was very much fired up and took nancy apart. i wish OL had shown half the fervor against le mans.

auxerre eliminated OM with a header from pedretti on precisely 90:48 and with only 1 minute stoppages time announced it was truly a last second effort.

semis will be 26/02/08; le mans-lens and auxerre-PSG.

[Catel]

It's a Paris highway to the UEFA Cup now.

[guignol]

wouldn't be too sure... i saw large parts of all the matches and lens looked the best to me. but all these teams blow so hot and cold that it's entirely possible that NO ONE will win this year.

[NicolasN.]

It'll be PSG - Auxerre and Le Mans - Lens.

Well, I respect Auxerre I know it will be hard. The context will also be different 1 month later and I'm really used to experience the unexpected with PSG.

[Catel]

wouldn't be too sure... i saw large parts of all the matches and lens looked the best to me. but all these teams blow so hot and cold that it's entirely possible that NO ONE will win this year.
:D Another big victory for Thiriez !

[SportBoy333]

As a neutral I'd like to see a PSG-Lens final because they have the best fans out of the 4 left however a part of me would like to see Le Mans win it to give their fans something to cheer about since they've never won anything.

[guignol]

since the headquarters of the company i work for is in le mans, and they're already ribbing us plenty about wednesday... well, let's say i wouldn't wish either a superga or a furiani on them, but a 12-0 for lens would be pretty nice!

[SportBoy333]

PSG in the final.

[Inara]

Well, it's Le Mans-Lens right now.

Both teams are up 4-4, so the game is in extra time.

Crazy!!!

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

That was insane!

[SportBoy333]

That means that either Lens or PSG will be in Europe next year in the UEFA Cup and neither would have made it there on their own merits based on their performances this season. I dont think either will be embarrased or knocked out early next year since both are amongst the larger French teams and they have plenty of European experience.

[Inara]

Lens probably deserves it more since they play a better style of football, but I think PSG has more experience on their side. They did pretty well last year and were just barely knocked out by Benfica. And that was when they were mired in the relegation zone in L1.

[NicolasN.]

Lens probably deserves it more since they play a better style of football, but I think PSG has more experience on their side. They did pretty well last year and were just barely knocked out by Benfica. And that was when they were mired in the relegation zone in L1.

You mean knocked out by "home" refereeing isn't it ?

The entire game was a shame. He forgot how to blow his whistle when PSG players suffered fouls...

[guignol]

RCL's goals were much prettier, including a magnificent volley by rémy served luminously by belhadj, a boggling scissors at pure horizontal by monterrubio(pelé a bit unlucky after making a fine stretch)... but le mans two goals to come back must have had JPP boiling. up two goals, nothing to do but padlock half an acre for half an hour, and RCL goes to sleep for the next 3 minutes... that alone counterbalances the rest and it would have served lens right, and perhaps well, to lose.

[SuperSebGrimaldi]

In the matches I've seen him, Rémy has quite impressed me this season, though Les Espoirs are stuffed with forwards at the moment.

[SportBoy333]

I never get to see the Coup de ligue final. I wish tv stations in the US would show it. They show the FA Cup, Coppa Italia and the Copa del Ray of course.