Juninho enjoys silencing OM

Olympique Lyonnais were happy to let their football do the talking at the Stade Vélodrome yesterday, running out 4-1 winners against Olympique de Marseille to establish a record Ligue 1 lead at the ten-match stage of the season.

Swipe
The five-time champions have dropped only two points this term, in a 1-1 home draw with Toulouse FC in August, to ensure they bettered last season's lead of four points, itself a record following the introduction of three points for a win in 1994/95. Lyon are eight clear of Marseille, and took quiet satisfaction in silencing Pape Diouf after the southern club's president had taken a swipe at their popularity in the build-up to what is always one of the most tense fixtures on the French calendar.

Juninho double
"It's great to stay at the top of the league, especially after what has been said in the last few days," said Lyon captain Juninho Pernambucano, who set his side on their way to victory with his 30th free-kick for Les Gones. "There is no need to speak out before a game for extra motivation. That might have been a big deal in the 1950s but we'll soon be heading into 2007." Juninho also scored in the second half, sandwiching goals from Karim Benzema and Kim Källström, as Lyon played their way to a memorable away success.

'Too nervous'
"We were too nervous and unable to turn any pressure into chances," said Marseille coach Albert Emon, while winger Samir Nasri added: "Lyon play as compact blocks which prove difficult to break down. They are still above everyone else in this league." Diouf was also left with little choice but to praise his side's conquerors. "Once again there is Lyon and everyone else," he said. "We are among the others, sadly, as we did not expect such a significant defeat."

Monaco example
That was almost a title concession, although Diouf's Lyon counterpart Jean-Michel Aulas was refusing to get carried away. "Don't forget that two seasons ago [AS] Monaco [FC] were ten points clear of us at the halfway stage and we still won the title," said the Lyon president. There were two negatives from the victory as Fred (hamstring) and Florent Malouda (back) both picked up injuries which were to be fully assessed today.