It Begins.

Olympique Lyonnais vs. Dijon FCO

Match day 21 – Ligue 1.

In an unbelievably quiet transfer zone window, the report card on indecision in the last month will come 21 days later. That is because starting tonight, Lyon plays a match roughly every three days, for the next three weeks! There are 7 matches in store, including the all important first leg of Champions League Round of 16. While it seems that Cissokho may not be going away in January, Lamine Gassama has already been sold to Lorient on a 4.5 year deal. PSG, on the other hand, just signed defender Alex from Chelsea.

Lyon has been doing their Home-work decently in the league this season, winning 22 points out of a possible 27 thus far. All of the 7 wins in 9 games at home have come when Lyon has scored first. At the same time, tonight’s opponent Dijon aren’t doing well on the Away circuit, gathering only 8 points out of possible 30. It should be a simple game, while not forgetting that Lyon are vulnerable when against opponents that have nothing to lose. Lyon will definitely want to correct their poor streak of losing 2 matches in the league games on either side of the Winter break, with a win in front of the home crowd.

The positive news of the week gone by was that Dejan Lovren renewed the contract with Lyon! I hope he goes on to emulate Cris at the club. The Force is strong in this one.

That being said, he still unavailable for tonight’s game. Bakary Koné is still missing, along with Mensah, leaving the centre of defense open to anyone who will want it. Réveillère is back, though!

Kim Källström is suspended for this match, and Gonalons is at the back bonding with the CB position like Toulalan did. Grenier and Fofana could possibly make the midfield.

Bafe Gomis’ return to the top of the pyramid gives an attack heavy team formation. Briand, Lisandro and Bastos may well make the attacking midfield, while Gomis does his target-man work.

Need of the hour is careful preservation of energy and prevention of injuries. The

Possible Team Lineups

Lyon – Lloris – Réveillère, Gonalons, Umtiti, Cissokho – Fofana, Grenier – Briand, Lisandro, Bastos – Gomis

Dijon FCO – Reynet – Bamba, Diallo, Souprayen, Diabaté – Kakuta, Baradji, Sankharé, Bauthéac – Corgnet – Jovial

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Category: Ligue 1