well, i'm surprised there's no thread for this yet, but i guess it's as much for me to start one as anybody (perhaps moreso) so here goes. the match last year was no pressure since OL was naturally the underdog. it's a bit different this time, RM has every reason to consider this a key match and all the horses necessary to make life hell for us. better defense so far this year and 4 goals this weekend makes it look like they're on tiptop form too. many of OL's key players are coming off a big match too, even if it was in blue. cannavaro couldn't stop us last week, let's hope this week's something the same. the big matchup will be toulalan-diarra and it's a puzzler. on paper jeremy looks a notch or two lower than djila, but this is the big chance he's looked for, let's hope he makes the best of it!
I was going to pay 32$ to go to the game, but they sold out online before I had a chance to buy them... I don't want to pay for the 70$ or 90$ tickets. =( I will probably go to the offical OL cafe to watch the game if anyone fancy's that. I think OL > RM 2-1 OL wins. They are going to carry the last match into this one. In the last game, they were actually slow, and this game they should be ready from the get-go after the last match. cheers.
this all seems to come very early for me; it's because normally i take my vacation in july, but this year it took it extra late, not getting back until the first week in september; and by then the comité d'entreprise ticket sales were over ... in past years i got tickets to 3 group matches (VSN) for about 70€; but 50€ per match (x 2 as well) is a bit steep for me. anyway, it makes a late night for guignol jr, so it's TV for us this time too.
This would be my lineup coupet reveillère - cris - caçapa - abidal juninho - tiago - toulalan - källstrom govou - fred - malouda
it would be my lineup too, if we were allowed to field 12 players! however, barring a rule change in the next 48 hours, my ideal lineup would be.. coupet RVR-Cris-Squillizzle-Abidal juni-toulalan-tiago govou-fred-malouda wiltord comes on for govou in the 65th no matter what. i like the idea of govou wearing down the defense for an hour, followed by wiltord coming on to finish off the weary! however, wiltord was exceptional in our last home leg against RM so i am hesitant to start him on the bench...but in light of the way govou performed at the SDF midweek, gotta start him!
best of luck for the match, i don't exactly like lyon but they are france's most realistic chance of making a mark on the CL this year, and besides it's real madrid.
So....it turns out the only television I will get is on TSN at 7:00pm EST, so it looks like I'm gonna have to cut myself off from the world. Atleast I'll be able to get some homework done.
Let us hope history will repeat itself this time.. "Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais! Qui ne saute pas n'est pas lyonnais!.."
Should be a cracking tie. And by the way, Setanta is replaying the match at 5pm Eastern time for those in the US.
no doubt, Lyon will win this game. For a long time people haven't known how good OL actually is. They have a ton of skill, and they work well with eachother.
It wont be easy for you guys win agin so easily..I really cant see you people score 3 times continiously beating the likes of Cannavaro,Ramos..In the presence of Diarra and Emerson..Nothing to take away from your team..But its a tall order.. And one things is for sure,Capello would make the defense absolutely tight,He would not mind winning but he would definetly mind losing... And we know what you guys are capable of,so its not like you peopleare underdog over here..And that itself will force us to take enough precautions.. And we have Diarra who wont mind passing one or two secrets of Lyon for his dream team.. Considering all this i dont think we will lose but we might win or make a draw...
But he has no experience with Lyon....I guess GH will want to work him into the lineup in Ligue 1 matches or maybe even the other Group matches when they aren't up against one of Europe giants.
Lyon: Houllier defends his attackers (12/09) In an interview relayed by Internet site of the OL, Gerard Houllier answered once again the not-recruitment of an attacker by the club, in the optics of the League of the Champions. "It is very unjust this debate", estimated the quartermaster of the Rhone. "It should be accepted that our attackers are sometimes less realistic. Everyone can mark with our system of play. Last season Carew and Fred had just arrived; Benzema crosses the steps of its progression. We have what to be competitive in this field. I rely on them. And then in Milan, it is not the fault of the attackers if we were eliminated."
Lyon: the admiring Spanish press (12/09) If the number of detractors of Jean-Michel Aulas seems to increase in France, Spain raffole of this owner of ambitious club, to which almost all smiles. In its presentation of the match of League of the Lyon Champions - Real Madrid (Wednesday evening), the daily newspaper HAVE is interested in the owner of the OL and draws up an eulogistic portrait of it. "It took the orders of the club in 1987, whereas this one vegetated in the 2nd division. Since, the OL did not cease growing to become one of the candidates to the victory in Champions League ", notices the sporting daily newspaper. "Its merits are not only sportsmen. Aulas is the king of the appreciation ", indicates ACE, which quotes the example of Essien," bought 8 million euros and resold two seasons later 38 million, or Mahamadou Diarra, which cost 4 million the club, which resold it 25 million in Real ". Lastly, the newspaper is delayed on the success of the owner of the OL, so much in its company (Cegid)"a reference in all Europe", that for the mark of its club. "the logo of the OL is reproduced on taxis, driving schools, travel agencies, and the club has even its line of hairdressing salon". Finally, HAVE, sees only one Mistigri in the play of Aulas: the League of the Champions. "If the club packed its prize list in France, it still did not succeed in exceeding the quarterfinals of Champion' S League and with y côtoyer best."
here's the group of 20 from which there will be a further selection of 16 today (my guesses for the 16 in bold, starters italic): Coupet, Vercoutre Abidal, Réveillère, Clerc, Cris, Squillaci, Müller, Berthod A. Diarra, Källström, Toulalan, Govou, Malouda, Tiago, Juninho Benzema, Carew, Fred, Wiltord i's love to see diarra go up against diarra, but since he's had zero minutes so far... also it would be a real slap for kim who's done very well, and came to lyon precisely for CL matches... as for nino, he's apparently not 100%
God, this is going to be a great game. I can't wait for tonight. I have a friend who got the last 2 tickets for 36$ for the match. The rest of us are meeting at my apartment pre-gaming, then heading to a pub in Vieux Lyon. My prediction stands. Huge game for Lyon, OL 2 > 1 Real Madrid
every day of the calendar has a saint’s name attached to it. And today is a special day. Yes, very special. It’s St. Aimé’s Day! And as we honor the man, must we honor the day, for one year ago to this day a great thing happened on the field of Gerland. So I’m digging up a post from that glorious time… let us take cheer, cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war! gnafron: O that we now had here But one thousand of those Real Madrid® worldwide marketing conglomerate fans That do no work to-day! guignol: What's he that wishes so? No, my fair cousin; If we are mark'd to lose, we are enow To do our club loss; and if to win, The fewer men, the greater share of honour. Aulas' will! I pray thee, wish not one man more. Rather proclaim it, That he which flies to dusty silverware years ago won, Let him depart; his ticket shall be refunded, We would not cheer in that man's company. This day is call'd the feast of Aimé. He that loses his voice this day, Will rouse him at the name of juninho. He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly with tablier de sapeur feast his neighbours, And say 'To-morrow is Saint Aimé.' Then will he show his scarf, And say 'This I wore on Aimé’s day.' Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember these names, Familiar in his mouth as household words- Carew the giant, Wiltord and Malouda, Juninho and Tiago, Cris and Cacapa. This story shall the good man teach his gone; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that jumps with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall make him lyonnais; And gentlemen now-a-bed Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks That cheered with us upon Saint Aimé’s day!
Mr. Diarra says he wants love from the crowd but I dont think he deserves it but he probably willl get it since Lyon fans arent known for being very rowdy and hostile.