Revenge – Best Served Cold.

Olympique Lyonnais vs. SM Caen

Week 23 – Ligue 1

What an AWESOME start to the year! Six wins, one well fought out draw and a marginal 1-0 loss in 8 matches since January. 8 matches in which Lyon has scored 19 goals. Injuries and whatnot have clouded our minds, but only one thing shows on the pitch. The winning culture at OL that Lisandro talks about!

“There are still aspects of our game that need perfecting, but mentally we’re formidable and it’s pretty tough to beat us at the moment”, said Garde after a 3-1 hammering of Bordeaux at home deep into extra-time. Still alive in four on four competitions, and Lyon seems to be well on their way to forgetting a certain Claude Puel.

But let’s face it. The job is nowhere close to being done as of now. 3^rd place in the league is up for grabs this evening; as Lille doesn’t play until tomorrow. And who better to get 3 points out of, than SM Caen, the first victors against OL this season.

Of Fortresses and Travel Memories

Lyon fell victim to Caen’s relatively strong run in the first half, away from home. Hugo Lloris probably remembers the game, as he was sent off in a league-career-first red card for a foul on Romain Hamouma. It was just Week 7 for the new boss in charge of this team, and Garde will be eager to make right all wrongs of the past.

Roles reversed this time, as Caen is in an 8 match winless streak, and OL’s been ripping goal nets open lately. 25 points gathered at Home for Lyon, out of a possible 30.

It will be a chilly -7 degrees Celsius on the pitch. But the players seem to be having fun! Ederson is gaining in confidence, Lacazette already looks to be in danger of being poached by bigger teams, while even Gourcuff managed to get into the action in the last game. Gomis has scored in his last five appearances for the team, in all competitions, while Lacazette has scored four games in the last three in all competitions. Today’s game should be a great warmup for the Champions League match against Apoel FC, which will also be a Home game. Following that game is another go at Bordeaux on the 19^th of Feb. Lace up!

Who’s in the Lineups and Who’s whining about the ice?

Mensah may be returning to the camp after Ghana’s exit in CAN. But he’s not in the group for the match. Cris is being rested after a 120 minute mini-ordeal against Bordeaux. Umtiti gets another shot at improving his experience. Kallstrom isn’t starting the game as well.

For Caen, strikers Pierre-Alain Frau and Mbaye Niang are back to the lineups, but Lenny Nangis misses out due to international U-20 duty.

Team Lineups

Lyon – Lloris – Réveillère, B.Koné, Umtiti, Cissokho – Gonalons, Grenier, Briand, Bastos – Lisandro, Gomis.

SM Caen – Thébaux – Van Dam, Heurtaux, Sorbon, Montaroup – Hamouma, Seube, Proment, Bulot – Mb. Niang, Frau.

Allez l’OL!

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Category: Ligue 1