Lyon and PSV prepare in style
Friday, February 17, 2006
Article summary
Olympique Lyonnais and PSV Eindhoven warmed up for next week's UEFA Champions League showdown with a 3-1 victory each in domestic action on Friday.
Article body
Olympique Lyonnais have restored their ten-point lead at the top of Ligue 1 after a comfortable 3-1 victory against mid-table FC Nantes Atlantique tonight.
Diarra desperate
A few eyebrows had been raised after Gérard Houllier's men had failed to win at home since 11 January, with midfielder Mahamadou Diarra admitting the players were particularly anxious to get back to winning ways. "I'll smile again only if we beat Nantes," he had said after three draws in a row.
Abidal back
Any concerns were soon erased this evening, with Lyon, who have just seen midfielder Florent Malouda agree a new deal until 2010, racing into a three-goal lead inside 57 minutes. In a match that marked left-back Eric Abidal's return to action for the first time since 9 November. Lyon were ahead after nine minutes when captain Juninho Pernambucano scored from a 20 metre free-kick.
Crucial second
Grégory Coupet, the Lyon goalkeeper, had a quiet first half, only raising his arms to celebrate his side's second goal when Diarra volleyed in from Sylvain Wiltord's headed pass. Within 12 minutes of the second half it was three, when Patrick Müller surged up the left and crossed for defensive colleague Cris. However, the centre-back missed the ball, allowing striker Fred to notch his seventh league goal of the season.
PSV next
Lyon were to concede a late consolation from Nantes' Mamadou Diallo but would be forgiven for having let their minds turn towards their UEFA Champions League visit to Dutch leaders PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday, who themselves won 3-1 tonight at BV Vitesse in the Eredivisie. Jefferson Farfán's two goals and another from Michael Lamey wiped out Youssouf Hersi's early effort and took PSV eight points clear at the top of the table.
Chasing pack
Back in France, the remaining Ligue 1 games will follow over the weekend, with second-placed FC Girondins de Bordeaux travelling to strugglers AC Ajaccio on Saturday. AJ Auxerre - six points adrift of Bordeaux in third - are also on the road at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard.
