An “Exceptional” Surprise

By: Inara | May 8th, 2007

Lyon’s “Formula One” car has lately morphed into a Formula 3000, and the supporters are not happy. Not only have Lyon not been winning, but their draws have had all the excitement of a snail race.

Normally this wouldn’t be a big deal. It’s not like Bordeaux care that they are the most boring team on Earth. But Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is always bragging that Lyon play the most attractive football in France, so it must bug him that while his team have been losing their grip, Marseille and Lens have been more interesting.

So in order to cheer up the fans and to regain the television audience, Aulas has promised grand celebrations for Lyon’s two remaining home matches (against Lens and Nantes, respectively). Nantes will obviously be the biggest party because that when Lyon will officially be awarded their sixth title. But tomorrow’s match against Lens will also be quite special.

The poster for tomorrow’s match.

According to Aulas via google translation:

“For the last two home matches, there A will be doubly the festival. For all the supporters which want to see something of exceptional, it is planned for Wednesday something of never considering. There will be a great festival. It will be also in a nostalgic way the recall of the first title of the Olympic Lyonese. There will be thus spectacle on the ground but also after, with an enormous surprise which will pack everyone”

Every since I read his comment, I’ve been trying to guess what it could be. During the last home match against Le Mans, there were fireworks, music, chaos on the field, etc. But “something of never considering” must be something crazy.

A gladiator battle between Gerard Houllier and Bernard Lacombe?

A cheerleading show by the mysterious Lyon WAGs?

A re-enactment of Zidane’s headbutt by Cris and Milan Baros?

Wesley Sneidjer showing up in an OL kit?

The possibilities are endless.

With all the build up to this mysterious surprise, people are forgetting that there is actually a match to be played tomorrow as well. It might be a party for the Lyon players, but for Lens, it’s a very important game that might make or break their bid for a Champions League slot.

Lens, who once had a comfortable gap of nine points between them and third place, now have Marseille and Bordeaux breathing down their necks, and if they lose at the Gerland while the other two teams win, they’ll be in danger of losing their second place spot (where they’ve been for 24 out of 35 days).

When the two sides met in December, Lyon humiliated Lens on their home ground, 4-0.

So at least one team will be taking this game seriously.

But don’t write off Lyon yet. They might be missing some key players, but they’ll still be high on champagne and happiness when they take on Lens, and they’ll be desperate (I hope) to provide their public with a win. That way, when it comes time for Aulas to reveal his surprise, the team will actually deserve it.

Lyon squad list: Coupet, Vercoutre - Réveillère, Clerc, Cris, Abidal, Squillaci, Müller, Caçapa - Toulalan, Diarra, Juninho, Fabio Santos, Tiago, Govou, Bettiol, Benzema, Malouda.

This match also brings up a question of ethics. Some of you might remember last year, when Lyon was coasting after winning its fifth title, Houllier aligned a team that was missing several regulars against Lille.

Lille said thank you very much, won that match 4-0, and due to the tight nature of spots 2-20 in the Ligue 1 table, kicked Marseille out of the last Champions League slot.

Marseille president Pape Diouf was pissed off, as were many other teams, who saw some sort of underlying conspiracy between Lyon and Lille.

It comes with the territory of being perennial French champions. Had PSG been trying to qualify for the CL instead of avoid relegation, Houllier’s decision to field an entirely different formation and leaving Juninho on the bench during last weekend’s match would probably have drawn criticism. The links between the two teams, of former players, managers, friendships, etc, is unusual in French football, something acknowledged by Gerard Houllier.

It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow. If Houllier aligns a weakened team, will Marseille and Bordeaux cry foul once again? Though I can’t imagine Lyon losing this match - they’ve been playing so crappy recently that a loss at home (ending their 12 match unbeaten streak) would be embarrassing.

It’s not like Houllier has many options anyway. With so many players out injured/suspended (Fred, Baros, Kallstrom, Ben Arfa, and Wiltord), Benzema will be centre forward, and Fabio Santos or Diarra will be one of the midfield substitutions.