Get Well Soon, Lyon!

By: Nikhil Apte | October 29th, 2011

Olympique Lyonnais vs. AS Saint-Etienne

Ligue 1, Matchday 12

Celebrations of victory over derby rivals Saint-Etienne in the Coupe de la Ligue Round of 16 turned sour following news of further injury to crucial squad members. Long time back up keeper Rémy Vercoutre and in-form winger Michel Bastos made their way into the injured list.

Another match another injury, it would seem. How much this affects the team performances in the next three games before the International break remains to be seen.

Medical bill

Derby du Rhône # 103.

Lyon are undefeated Home League matches since the last loss in September 2010, which makes it a tally of 20 games. Against Saint-Etienne, of course. The occasion was that of the 100^th Derby between the two teams, a prestigious event by no small means for two teams whose yearly club objectives probably included defeat of their city rival. And few opportunities would be better than the one tonight for Lyon – a psychological advantage from mid-week cup knockout, Home turf, and a tired Saint Etienne team from playing with nearly no lineup changes in the last two games.

Briand St. Etienne

Slipping into 5^th place (6 points away from leaders PSG) would be enough to keep the hosts on their toes. Dropping points any further will likely mean giving up on the dream of recapturing the Ligue title. Saint-Etienne are in a decent run of their own, with five games unbeaten in the league. So given Lyon’s three losses in the last five games, ASSE would fancy their chances as well.

Tonight would also be a good opportunity to see whether Rémi Garde gets one up on Claude Puel already, by defeating St. Etienne at the Gerland. Something the previous coach couldn’t manage in three attempts.

Jimmy Briand is finally drawing some attention to himself, making the right flank his own, getting goals in consecutive games. With Bastos’s injury, he is likely to bear the burden of holding the ball on the flanks while central players regroup into position for taking crosses. Ederson would likely take up the left flank, and one hopes the midfielder is enthusiastic to be of some help to repay a club that has had faith in him after an a la-Rosicky injury. Gomis would return to the starting line-up, as will Hugo Lloris.

Who’s in the Line-Ups and who’s visiting Bored.com?

Michel Bastos on Friday announced his inability to participate in matches for Lyon for the next three-four weeks. A thigh injury this time, it appears. Vercoutre is out for up to three months! I have no clue how Lyon would handle a keeper red-card situation if Lloris manages one. Backup keeper Anthony Lopes has not had a SINGLE game with the first team till date. Wow.

Lisandro, Pied, Grenier, Mensah are all injured. When does Lisandro’s eight weeks medical sabbatical end?! It feels like a generation has passed since he took to the field. The derby against Saint Etienne is one preceding the hugely important mid-week Real Madrid home match in the Champions League. But Garde has little choice of first team since rarely before now have there been more flies sitting on the Lyon bench than players.

Possible Team Line-Ups

Lyon – Lloris ; Réveillère, Cris, Lovren, Cissokho ; Gonalons, Källström ; Briand, Gourcuff, Ederson ; Gomis.

Saint-Etienne – Ruffier ; Ebondo, Paulao, Marchal, Néry ; Nicolita, Guilavogui, Lemoine, Clément, Sako; Aubameyang.

Allez Lyonnais!

Some Related Lyon Posts:

Category: Ligue 1

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muadz matmu

Lyon signed Matthieu Valverde due to our backup goalkeepers being injured.
Megame

OK, matchday 12 is over and Lille drew with Valenciennes: they're now third and we're fourth with the same number of points, but with two goals less.
Anyway, that shows we didn't lose too much ground despite our recent hiccups.
John

I missed Dabo's red card. What the hell was he thinking? He gets so few chances to play and this is what he does with one of them? If Aly's hurt, I guess it's going to be Kallstrom back at LB. And Bastos is out at "just the right time."
muffin

Hey, don't write Dabo off so quickly. He made a mistake in his enthusiasm to prove himself, but he's a great player in my view. He should definitely get his chance against RM and in L1 if Aly is out injured for a longer period of time. Dabo is exactly a fullback we need and I think once he settles in Lyon and Aly leaves, we'll forget Aly was ever here.
I think in a year or two Dabo and Kolodziejczak will be the best fullback pair in Ligue 1.
Megame

For you and everyone who didn't get to see this (very) rough tackle and the two goals, there you go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?f...
Nikhil Apte

I think he got the ball? But studs up, no excuse.
John

To all those who were ready to cast Briand off, there you go.
Nikhil Apte

Is it now a contrarian's time to revel? :P
John

Jejejeje. We need to give all these players a chance to come into their own. They've all been stiffled under Puel and most will show what they are really capable of at some point. Briand has always looked very good in the preseason but fizzled during the year. He mayb be finally putting all together. Gourcuff is starting to get me excited as well!
John

I can't say it enough, but I f#cking love Lisandro: When Briand scored, he ran down to the tunnel to celebrate with Dabo and reasure him. Are injured players required to attend home matches? He's always there and his facial experessions show a level of involvement in his squad that you just don't get with other players.
carvivlie

Amazing game from Lyon!! Talk about a confidence builder. I hope Aly is okay and not injured. We are being stretched to the breaking point.
sdzsdz

what heart! im in tears! allez lyonnais! incredible!
Megame

2-0 final score. A good game for a robust 10-man team . 2 back-to-back wins against arch rival St Etienne are good for the morale ahead of the return leg against Madrid.
Megame

2-0 Gourcuff!
Nikhil Apte

Yessss! :D
Megame

1-0, thanks to a Briand header. Then, a few minutes after, what a save from Lloris!
BIM

Lacazette from start, not Ederson!
muffin

I wonder why Fofana isn't even in the group for the 2nd consecutive game. I thought he'd at least get playing time in CdL, but he wasn't in the group just like today. I heard he's not injured and infact had a training with CFA's. Is he being punished for something?