SM Caen vs. Lyon

By: John | December 20th, 2008

Hopefully we’ll see some of this from our “bread-and-butter” offensive machine
Dec 20, 2008
Stade Malherbe Caen
3p.m.(21:00CET, 20:00GMT)

After last week’s match between Lyon and Marseille, which would have put the most avid L1 viewer to sleep, OL travel to Le Stade Malherbe Caen to take-on SM Caen. It will be a “clash” – well, maybe more like two castrated rams rubbing horns – between two squads whose current form mirror one another. But seriously, hopefully Lyon will shake-off their lethargic form, play some attacking ball and put some goals in the back of the net.

Caen is currently 11th in the table and they have the #6 ranked offense- Lyon is #7- with (23) goals scored vs. (22) scored by Lyon. Their defense is ranked 12th with (20) goals allowed. Lyon have been in stale form lately, picking up two points in their last four games. And the wolves are lining up behind OL, as PSG, Marseille, and Bordeux are all tied for second place in the table and are just three points behind Lyon.

Caen is in a similar rut as OL: They have one win in their last six matches and Lyon is winless in their last four. All this seems like a recipe for a very boring match, but I think it’s time for one, or both of these teams to break-out of their malaise. Caen’s offense is lead by the fiesty old dog and former Valenciennes striker Steve Savidan. Savidan by the way, is rumoured to be a highly sought-after target of Marseille during the upcoming winter transfer period. Caen’s second highest scorer is ex-Troyes midfielder Benjamin Nivet, who’s netted a respectable five goals this season.

History:
Suprisingly Lyon have a losing record in total games vs. Caen. In (9) games, Lyon have won only (1), drawn (2) and lost (6). Lyon haven’t won in the last three matches, with their last victory coming in a
1-0 victory in Febuary of ‘05. The last nine matches:

2007/2008 12/8/2007 SM Caen 1 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais
2004/2005 3/4/2005 SM Caen 1 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais
1996/1997 8/24/1996 SM Caen 1 – 1 Olympique Lyonnais
1994/1995 2/8/1995 SM Caen 0 – 1 Olympique Lyonnais
1993/1994 12/3/1993 SM Caen 1 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais
1992/1993 9/2/1992 SM Caen 3 – 2 Olympique Lyonnais
1991/1992 1/18/1992 SM Caen 1 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais
1990/1991 11/10/1990 SM Caen 1 – 0 Olympique Lyonnais
1989/1990 3/24/1990 SM Caen 1 – 1 Olympique Lyonnais

Injuries: The usuals, Clerc, Reveillere, Bodmer and Pjanic, but Faure, Kolo, and Hartock are also out. Most of their injuries are coming-along very well. Clerc is continuing to progress in his rehab, Bodmer has begun running and should be back during the last week of January, and Pjanic has even started to participate in light ball work sessions on the practice field with the rest of the group.
Ederson was questionable after picking-up an ankle contusion in one ankle, and a sprain in the other ankle against Marseille last week, but looks good-to-go. Grosso is out due to suspension.

With Grosso out, it looks like Kallstrom will be filling-in at LB- well, at least it’s not a CL game. Mensah looks to get the start at RB again, where he has been putting-in decent performances- much better than his play at LB. I guess this game is too important to Puel to play the youngling Gassama, who is probably going through intensive pshycological therapy after being viciously “raped” by Ribery in the last CL match. Govou will also probably not see the field after his bone-headed antics- arrested for drunk driving- last weekend after the Marseille match. It’s also good to see Yannis Tafer in the squad, hopefully as #3 behind Piquionne, with Fred being relegated to oblivion.

Le groupe: Lloris, Vercoutre – Cris, Boumsong, Mensah, Gassama – Toulalan, Källström, Makoun, Fabio Santos, Juninho – Govou, Delgado, Ederson, Keita, Mounier, Fred, Tafer, Piquionne, Benzema.

Lineup:

France Football’s got a 4-5-1.

Lloris
Mensah-Cris-Boumsong-Kallstrom
Toulalan-Makoun
Keita-Juninho-Ederson
Benzema