Shit. It’s Barcelona
By: Inara | December 19th, 2008Early this morning, the UEFA bigwigs held the draw for the knockout rounds of the Champions League. The only club Lyon couldn’t have drawn was Bayern because they were in the same group as Lyon.
Full draw:
Chelsea vs. Juventus
Villareal vs. Panathinaikos
Sporting vs. Bayern
Atletico vs. Porto
Lyon vs. Barcelona
Real Madrid vs. Liverpool
Arsenal vs. Roma
Inter vs. Manchester United
GREAT. Lyon drew the hardest team. I was really hoping for an easier one like Panathinaikos or Roma. I’m going to try to be positive, but unless Lyon improve to 150% of their potential and Barca suffers a massive injury and morale crisis in late winter, it’s hard to see much of a future in this competition.
But stranger things have happened, and maybe Lyon can perform a miracle come March. Let’s also pray that Puel does some smart recruiting this winter and that the injured players getting better. By then, I hope the situation will seem less insurmountable. We all know how important current form is, and a team playing brightly now may wilt in a few months, while an ailing team may blossom.
So let’s try to keep calm until February. Then we will see if the situation warrants panicking.
Now excuse me while I go drown myself in Stolichnaya with some Percocet on the side.
Category: Team News and Rumors
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Comments
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I was so angry to see that draw! I singled Barca out as the very one team I wouldn’t want to face. Two years in a row now we’ve got the form team of the whole competition in the last 16! Its so annoying to see light fixtures like Atletico v Porto and Villareal v Panithinaikos when we’ve been drawn Barca. A lot of ’superpowers’ will be going out this round with 4 of Liverpool, Real, Inter, Man U, Chelsea, Juventus, Us and Barca all pitted against one of the other.
Posted from
United Kingdom
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I’m sorry. Truly sorry. The unstoppable Barcelona killing machine will destroy anything in its path.
Posted from
Armenia -
I honestly can’t wait until February. Ugh! People are saying Barca are going to destroy with ease. I would kinda agree with that assessment had they made light of our crappy play lately, but it just seems like, from their pov, that Barca are going to beat us because they are simply Barca. I hope everyone gets healthy (well not Revs), no one leaves, and we get some backs that are not cup-tied. It’s a tough draw, but I’m not afraid and hopefully Lyon aren’t.
Posted from
United States -
i’d say barca is a better draw than last year…
i just knew lyon would never make it past man u. and when barcelona are on, they are probably even better (and more beautiful to watch) thank united. but they are also less consistent, and they can have days when they are completely useless.
worst-case scenario, we get to see lloris concede some true highlight-reel goals against messi & co. best case, OL shock the world and make it through this round.
i bet the players are kicking themselves for that bayern munich first half.
Posted from
United States -
*than united, not thank united
Posted from
United States -
Govou knew it already.That explains why.
Posted from
France -
Also, has anyone read the news that (surprise surprise) Fred has declared he wants to have his contract annulled so he can leave for free in January, what a selfish and arrogant twat Fred really is! This really puts a spanner in the works for Puel as that will leave just Piquionne (who isn’t really good enough) as back up striker, unless Tafer is ready to step up to the plate. Also – Inara if your article about Lyon becoming baby poachers is anything to go by then you’re going to be getting very angry over the next couple of years or so as I just read that Jean-Mimi has realised he can’t compete financially with the big boys so has adopted a new tactic of buying the best young talent to draw success down the line, starting with an apparent swoop for a left midfielder! called Valentin Stocker from FC Basle. Article here – http://www.goal.com/en/news/783/lyon/2008/12/19/1019518/lyon-to-raid-basel-for-valentin-stocker
Posted from
United Kingdom -
it’s unbeliveble..we always meet the cl winners..well let’s hope we aquire a lightening quick left back to cope with messi..let’s aquire a totally new back 4.
Posted from
Norway -
So now Lyon need to find a quality striker over the winter as well as an incredible defender or two. yikes, this is making me nervous.
Inara, its good to have you back. Funny stuff.
Posted from
United States -
I look forward to this challenge, Inara. Not only on the field, but on the cyberwebs.
To those who think that Barcelona is not the “best” team in the competition, I have to wonder 1) what you’re smoking and 2) who you think is harder/better. I agree fully with the assessment that Lyon is the unluckiest team in this year’s draw because now they have to face us. We are the best team in Europe right now and while all of that can change, if we play against OL like we played against any of Sevilla, Valencia, or Real Madrid, then we will win.
That’s not saying OL doesn’t have a good squad or can’t win because there’s a long way to go, but if you take it at face value (points earned per game, goals scored per game, goals allowed per game, as well as perception), Barça are the best team there is in Europe. That either counts for something in your book or it doesn’t.
Be proud to be OL fans and cheer your heads off when we play you, but just know that somewhere, in some town, there’s an annoying Barça fan kicking back to watch your team lose to the Pep Dream Team, content with his UNICEF donation packet and a caganer.
I’m sad to face OL because I always root for them as the “underdog” against the bigger clubs and either we win and OL is out or I have to hate OL for a season — neither is a particularly enticing ending, but I much, much, much prefer the former to the latter.
And I do hope that Alex is right: that you always meet the CL winner…
Posted from
United States -
They say that to win the CL you need a lot of luck, as well as a strong squad. Well, Lyon just don’t have any luck when it comes to draws!!! In their current form, they are in no shape to offer Barca even a healthy friendly match. Puel has to recruit some massive reinforcements over the winter: A solid right/left back, and some offensive finishers/scorers, because Benzema and Juni can’t do it all on their own. And hope that Lyon start peaking right around that time, although it will be hard, so close after the winter lay-off. Also, I don’t think our current CB pairings can hold-up to the offensive onslaugts of the bigger clubs in Europe.
Posted from
Costa Rica -
I could cry at this draw. I’m trying to tell myself that we always mess up with easy opponents and play better when the going gets tough but even so this is a bridge very far.
Bernard Lacombe had an interesting imagery when he admitted: “I am very worried. Lyon couldn’t have found a worse adversary. Barca has the best players in Europe in its squad. It’s mission impossible, equivalent to you asking me to jump over the crossbar with both feet tied.” Quite.
Re Fred actually I’m pleased about this. I was getting very worried about how seriously OL were taking his desire to renew the contract. This latter little feet stamping by Fred will hopefully kill off any hesitation about him once and for all. Though obviously the timing sucks.Posted from
France -
Claude Puel’s reaction
How do you feel about the outcome of the draw?
« It doesn’t bother me. It’s going to be a huge game; Barcelona are the in-form side of the last 6 months. At least I won’t have any problems motivating my players. We will be looking to qualify, even if it is Barcelona and the return leg is in Spain. At the end of the day, if you want to win the competition you have to knock out the best teams. We will be outsiders, but we will have our chances. Yes, it will be the reunion with Eric Abidal… it’s a shame for him (laughs). It is definitely motivating to play against Barcelona. When I played for Monaco against them, Guardiola was on the pitch. Barcelona’s strong points? They have so many. Weaknesses? We’ll see. First and foremost we will play our game. The answers will come from the squad after all ».Does this remind you of your time at Lille?
« Yes, we played against Manchester and AC Milan. At the peril of repeating myself, anything is possible. We’ll have to see where the teams are in February and March. We are always present in the face of adversity ».A word on Fred’s declarations?
« We’re in the period just before the transfer window. People often have problems at this time of the year, it gets things talked about. Fred has been questioning things since the return game against Fiorentina. Fred, we are counting on him and his qualities. He will be staying with us until the end of the season. A remplacement? We always have our eyes open, but bar a miracle, it would appear to be more than complicated ».Posted from
United States -
I feel sorry for fred…..claude puel hasn’t played him much this season…..he’s really a good guy……and why do we always have to come up against barca?! Ugh!
Posted from
United States -
My fear isn’t getting walloped by Barca (which I don’t think will happen either – they may probably end up winning, but I think Lyon will account for themselves well).
My worry is that Aulas and Puel will already decide that Lyon has no chance and act accordingly, which means they won’t recruit anyone for the immediate purposes of the CL but with their “long term” goals in mind.
We might as well say goodbye to Benzema.
Posted from
United States -
” It doesn’t bother me. It’s going to be a huge game; Barcelona are the in-form side of the last 6 months. At least I won’t have any problems motivating my players. ”
Those words did it for me. Now i know we hired the right guy for the job
Posted from
United States -
Yeah I love how most Barca players and fans (and pretty much all non-Lyon fans) have decided that it’s already over. Hey, maybe Barca will simply just petition UEFA to do away with their knockout round games since the results are decided already.
Geez. I’m a realistic person, but I hope Lyon show those people a thing or two.
Posted from
United States -
Also, I don’t think ending as group winners would have made a big difference. Bayern just as easily could have gotten Chelsea while we just as easily could have gotten Pana.
Actually, it was bound to happen. Barca could only face four teams in the next round, and Lyon was one of them. So it was a 25% chance that they would have gotten us anyway.
Posted from
United States -
I also had a bad feeling that Lyon would draw Barcelona. I know this won’t make me very popular I have to admit that I’m a Roma fan and a Fabio Grosso fan. That said I also follow Lyon and Juninho is one of my favorite players. Let’s hope that Barcelona hits a bad spell of form come February, you know that Victor Valdes will be shaken when Juninho takes a free kick.
Posted from
United States -
we should never have sold Ben arfa..the chemistry between him and benze is probably the best chemistry in the world..I feel that Benze has to do everything alone this season upfron, theres no one to play him trough, ederson hasn’t got the amazing trough pass ability of ben arfa..and i haven’t seen pjanic yet
Posted from
Norway -
Well, Barcelona may be the favourite and the best team in the world at the moment – but I believe in this team of ours. Do we really want to win the CL? If we do, how the hell do we want to do that without defeating the big guns? Do we really think we could draw Pana and then get extremely lucky to play Sporting in the quarter-final, Porto in the semis and a super final of Lyon – Villareal? If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. So, ladies and gentlemen, if we start crying over this draw and curse our luck, what CL win are we talking about at all? Yes, we could have fared better with Roma, Juve or even MU to reach at least the quarter-final, but if our ambition really is to win this whole damn competition, we should really be happy for drawing the best team and then say to the whole world: bring ‘em on!
Posted from
United States -
You’re absolutely right, Nikola. Game’s not ever yet.
And I think playing first game at home is an advantage, when you face Barca.
We can surprise them on the first game, and do not let them score any goals at Gerland. Then at Camp Nou, we can score anytime with Juni’s freekick.
That will be hard, but that’s all I like !Posted from
France -
Inara, now that you’re not “missing” anymore, you can do me a HUGE pre-holiday favor. Please don’t forget my Sx3 tomorrow…it’s seasonal-and LOCAL, to you and me, anyway-and hysterical!
Posted from
United States
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