Lyon's season to be jolly
Monday, December 19, 2005
Article summary
Despite losing their unbeaten record in their most recent game, Olympique Lyonnais go into the winter break in France in a commanding position.
Article body
First defeat
LOSC Lille Métropole meted out Lyon's first defeat in all competitions this season - barring a penalty shoot-out loss to FC Nantes Atlantique in the French League Cup - and their first league reverse since 17 April as they won 3-1 at Stade Gerland on Friday.
Excess charge
"It's never nice to lose," said Claudio Caçapa, who incurred a €1,300 excess-luggage fine along with team-mates Juninho Pernambucano, Cris and Fred as they flew back to Brazil for Christmas. "It has just brought us back to earth. We can still improve."
Mighty lead
Considering they stand 12 points clear at the top, with traditional rivals AS Saint-Etienne and Olympique de Marseille nowhere to be seen, it is hard to think exactly how Gérard Houllier's team can get better. Their lead at the halfway stage breaks the record for the biggest advantage at the end of the opening half of a campaign.
Previous record
Back in 1969/70, St-Etienne set the standard, taking what would have been a ten-point cushion - had wins counted for three points, not two - into the Christmas recess. Lyon shattered that, just as they will break the one they hold jointly with St-Etienne and Marseille should they claim a fifth successive Ligue 1 title in the spring.
'Only trophies count'
"I can only praise the players for what they have done up until now, but remind them that remaining unbeaten is nothing - only trophies count," said Houllier, who replaced Paul Le Guen last summer and has helped foster an excellent team spirit.
Carew coup
The former Liverpool FC boss has certainly picked up the baton handed to him by Le Guen - who remains a hot managerial property in Europe despite taking a year off from football - and having lost Michael Essien to Chelsea FC, he made something of a transfer coup in the signing of Norwegian striker John Carew.
Second place
Such has been Lyon's dominance that the only competition being discussed is the one for second place. That could yet prove an exciting tussle as the campaign resumes on 4 January with eight sides clustered within three points of each other behind Lyon.
Lens impress
UEFA Cup contenders RC Lens, undefeated in Ligue 1 since succumbing 2-0 at FC Nantes Atlantique on the opening day, are leading the chasing pack but AJ Auxerre, St-Etienne and Paris Saint-Germain FC will all hope to prosper while the remaining contenders are preoccupied by European campaigns.
Pauleta stars
In terms of individual exploits, PSG's Pauleta has been the star of the season so far, scoring 12 league goals - eight more than Lens's Daniel Cousin, the UEFA Cup's leading marksman. Pauleta has been exceptional in front of goal in previous years, but his leadership skills have been impressive in 2005/06 too.
Heads will roll
For France's coaches, autumn of 2005 has been a calmer one than in 2004. Thus far, only AS Monaco FC's Didier Deschamps has lost his job, giving way to Francesco Guidolin. However, further heads may roll in the spring as Lyon's success guarantees that more dreams will go unfulfilled.