Sochaux vs Lyon : confirmation expected

By: Megame | March 12th, 2011

Where the Lionceaux (the cubs) meet Lyon… This saturday, the FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, unbeaten in three matches, hosts the Olympique Lyonnais, currently fourth before this 27th day of Ligue 1. The Lyonnais have the opportunity to overtake Marseille and reach the third step of the podium, getting closer (at 1 point distance) to the leader, Lille, until they play on sunday, and to Rennes who lost to Marseille (2-0).

sochaux-lyon

Confirmation is expected from Lyon, after a series of convincing wins celebrated by observers as displays of entertaining football, but, foremost, ahead of the critical second leg against Real on wednesday.
But Sochaux is a serious player, especially at home, with a good offense, and one should not expect a result a la Arles Avignon. They can still hope for a spot in the Europa Cup, and will do everything to get there. This being said, Francis Gillot’s team is plagued by injuries ( Bréchet, Richert, and Mikari Booty injured, adding to Anin and Ideye suspended) so he only called 16 players.

On the Lyon side, in an attempt to extend this good series (three wins and one draw, and a whopping 14 goals in their last four outings) Claude Puel virtually aligns his best possible team in the absence for injury of Cris, Cissokho and Gourcuff. Ahead of the Real game we’re likely to revert to a 4-2-3-1 formation , with Gomis as lone striker. Lisandro, author of a hat-trick against Arles-Avignon (5-0) last Sunday at the center of the attack, is likely to be back on the left wing, while Michel Bastos should play on the right.

Probable teams:

Sochaux :
Cros – Josse, Perquis, Faty, Drama – Martin Carlão – Sauget, Boudebouz, Maurice-Belay – Maiga.

Lyon:
Lloris – Réveillère, Diakhate, Lovren, Kolodziejczak – Toulalan, Kallstrom – Bastos, Pjanic, Lisandro – Gomis.

Some Related Lyon Posts:

Category: Team News and Rumors

« Lyon vs Arles-Avignon : Is the lesson learnt yet? | Home | Real Madrid vs Olympique Lyonnais : End or beginning ? »

Megame

The new post is online!
lefutur

is there going to be a Real Madrid thread?
Megame

Yes sir! But in a little while.

For the time being, let's continue commenting here.
john

http://www.goal.com/en/news/17...

Need to keep the trend going.
Aaron

Bastos out for 2 months with knee injury! It needs surgery, what an awful thing to happen.
Michael

Shit!!!!
john

I'm in shock that our goal diff has improved to best in the league, tied with Lille. What leaps and bounds we've made from a few months ago.
muaz

and lisandro is now at the top five scorers in the league, with 12 goals to his name
john

Lilo could shoot to the top with two or three good matches. I can't believe we have such an incredible pair of strikers.
Michael

Great game! Now it's time for Real :)
Megame

Well, Valenciennes was about to get the draw, but as often Lille scored the winning goal in the dying minutes of the game, so tonight they're confortably ahead with 3 points more than Rennes and 4 more than us.
Paco

Can someone give an update on the fitness of Cissokho, Gourcuff and Cris?
I really wish they are all fit to play against Real Madrid, eliminate them once more, pleeeeeease! :D

Allez Les Gones!
Megame

Well, Cris and Gourcuff trained normally today and are declared fit, but there's a question mark for Cissokho. He ran separately with the physio at training this morning; he may travel to Spain with the group but the final verdict may not come before tuesday or wednesday.
Paco

Thanks, that gives me some more confidence in OL.
You've also mentioned that Pjanic und Toulalan took light knocks, I assume they'll be fit?
Megame

Yes, it doesn't seem serious. Toulalan declared this morning that he was OK, and nothing was said about Pjanic.
Luke

i hope all our players are fit for the Real Madrid game especially cissokho btw this grenier kid is a real talent
Megame

That's very true. I know many on this forum have their eyes on Lacazette, and rightly so, but I think Grenier is impressive : talented, mature and particularly well rounded for his young age.
Megame

Other than that, it is particularly pleasing to see this team getting to its true collective dimension.
Gomis was sparkling tonight, and his generosity towards his teammates in general and Lisandro in particular truly lifts the offense. The Licha-Bafe relationship is very promising. And so is (I'd never have thought I'd say that, back in November-December!) the Lovren-Diakhate pair.
Megame

Yes, this game was very encouraging ahead the Real game.
I have slight concerns about two points, the efficacy in front of the goal (the goal tally should have been much higher, as at Bernabeu we will need to convert every possible opportunity) and the injuries, as not only were Gourcuff, Cris and Cissokho injured, but Toulalan and Pjanic may be hit, too. The first called the doctors after his substitution, having hurt his elbow as a consequence of the miraculous save he made; and it's unclear what the latter exactly has.
Nikhil Apte

I hope we don't know and I hope Real don't know about any health statuses of Lyon players. Puel and Aulas should put a media blackout over the club till 2 hours before the match.
Nikhil Apte

Forgive me for saying the B-word if you find it outrageous, but for some spells in the game, Lyon looked like Barcelona in keeping possession! :D
Pride of Lyon

Ok, we played well enough. I just hope this will be enough against Real Madrid. If Ronaldo plays, we have a chance, since Real seems to play more collectively without him and look more dangerous.
All our players seem to reach top form, and that is good news not only for CL but especially for L1. I never imagined we would be the most offensive team 3 months ago. The players have changed mentality, and the other teams are beginning to fear us again.
stanley

can people talk on this forum when lyon win as well not only when we lose. Anyway i thought they had a good match and it was a great way to play before and important game
Nikhil Apte

What a match what a match!!
What a save from Toulalan! Gomis deserved a goal and should have taken the chip.

But everyone is bound to be fired up with this game!
Megame

0-1 at half time. Lyon largely dominating for the first 25 mins, Sochaux reacting mildly afterwards. Lisandro missed several chances, narrowly however, but scored from a caviar generously offered by Gomis.