OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS
French champions
Champions League pedigree: Quarter-finalists: 2004, 2005, 2006
THE LOWDOWN:
After claiming six straight French league titles, their domestic dominance is utter and complete. However, despite regularly earning rave reviews for their spectacular form in the group stages of the Champions League, they have consistently failed to push on in the sudden-death phase, often showing unmistakeable signs of naivety and springtime burn-out.
OL president Jean-Michel Aulas, the head of the powerful G14 lobbying group of leading European sides, is desperate for his club to finally punch their weight in this competition. However, many believe that Lyon may be on the wane, pointing to the exodus of talent they have suffered this summer, notably the sales of left-flank ace Florent Malouda (Chelsea ), full-back Eric Abidal (Barcelona) and midfield all- rounder Tiago (Juventus).
THE TECHNICAL AREA:
Although he may not have proved a success in the Premiership with Portsmouth, Alain Perrin retains much credibility as a coach in the French game and after leading Sochaux to victory in the 2007 Cup Final, he was appointed to take over from Gerard Houllier.
Perrin's first move was to scrap the time-honoured 4-3-3 formation used by both Houllier and his predecessor Paul Le Guen, replacing it with a vanilla 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1. He is convinced the new system will give the team more flexibility and allow them to turn defence into attack so much quicker.
THE WOW FACTOR:
Home grown kids such as striker Karim Benzema and attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa can light up any game. The latter is an extremely gifted player who with his tricks and feints takes some stopping when he runs with the ball, while Benzema combines, elegance, clever movement and predatory finishing.
The other key for Lyon will be the magical free-kick ability of the midfielder Juninho. Since arriving at the club in 2001, the Brazilian has scored no fewer than 32 goals from set-pieces, sometimes employing power, on other occasions turning to precision.
No wonder OL were so keen to buy him. In the previous two seasons, he was arguably the most exciting player in Ligue 1, a nightmare for defenders with his delicate dribbling skills and extreme pace. The 26-year-old does however come with a government health warning. He can be casual to the point of comatose, is not known for his consistency and has a tendency to lose his cool.
THE TENDER SPOT:
OL were hit with a double whammy this summer when first-choice keeper Gregory Coupet and Brazilian central defender Cris both fell victim to knee ligament injuries. Coupet will be sidelined for four months, while Cris will not be back before March.
To replace them, Perrin should turn to the raw number two goal keeper Remy Vercoutre and Cleber Anderson, another boy from Brazil recently acquired from Benfica.
If new Italian left-back and World Cup winner Fabio Grosso offers a great deal on the overlap, the same cannot be said of the former Inter Milan's defending, which can be slapdash at times.
HOT GOSSIP:
During the off-season winger Sidney Govou caused a storm with his public criticism of Juninho, claiming the latter benefited from special treatment from club management and that it was having a divisive effect on the dressing room. Juninho angrily denied it and resigned the captaincy in a huff.
Brazilian striker Fred - he of the baby's dummy goal celebration - incensed his employers by taking part in this summer's Copa America without the club's permission. To make matters worse, he broke a bone in his foot while in Venezuela, resulting in a three-month lay-off. Fred will miss his team's first three Champions League ties because of suspension after TV cameras caught him elbowing Christian Chivu off the ball in last season's fixture with Roma,
IDEAL LINE UP:
Vercoutre, Grosso, Cleber, Bodmer, Clerc, Toulalan, Kallstrom, Ben Arfa, Juninho, Keita, Benzema.
THE VERDICT:
After a summer of change, there is some evidence that it's the end of an era at Lyon, but provided they can adjust to their new tactical set-up, they still have enough quality in their ranks to make the knock-out rounds.
French champions
Champions League pedigree: Quarter-finalists: 2004, 2005, 2006
THE LOWDOWN:
After claiming six straight French league titles, their domestic dominance is utter and complete. However, despite regularly earning rave reviews for their spectacular form in the group stages of the Champions League, they have consistently failed to push on in the sudden-death phase, often showing unmistakeable signs of naivety and springtime burn-out.
OL president Jean-Michel Aulas, the head of the powerful G14 lobbying group of leading European sides, is desperate for his club to finally punch their weight in this competition. However, many believe that Lyon may be on the wane, pointing to the exodus of talent they have suffered this summer, notably the sales of left-flank ace Florent Malouda (Chelsea ), full-back Eric Abidal (Barcelona) and midfield all- rounder Tiago (Juventus).
THE TECHNICAL AREA:
Although he may not have proved a success in the Premiership with Portsmouth, Alain Perrin retains much credibility as a coach in the French game and after leading Sochaux to victory in the 2007 Cup Final, he was appointed to take over from Gerard Houllier.
Perrin's first move was to scrap the time-honoured 4-3-3 formation used by both Houllier and his predecessor Paul Le Guen, replacing it with a vanilla 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1. He is convinced the new system will give the team more flexibility and allow them to turn defence into attack so much quicker.
THE WOW FACTOR:
Home grown kids such as striker Karim Benzema and attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa can light up any game. The latter is an extremely gifted player who with his tricks and feints takes some stopping when he runs with the ball, while Benzema combines, elegance, clever movement and predatory finishing.
The other key for Lyon will be the magical free-kick ability of the midfielder Juninho. Since arriving at the club in 2001, the Brazilian has scored no fewer than 32 goals from set-pieces, sometimes employing power, on other occasions turning to precision.
No wonder OL were so keen to buy him. In the previous two seasons, he was arguably the most exciting player in Ligue 1, a nightmare for defenders with his delicate dribbling skills and extreme pace. The 26-year-old does however come with a government health warning. He can be casual to the point of comatose, is not known for his consistency and has a tendency to lose his cool.
THE TENDER SPOT:
OL were hit with a double whammy this summer when first-choice keeper Gregory Coupet and Brazilian central defender Cris both fell victim to knee ligament injuries. Coupet will be sidelined for four months, while Cris will not be back before March.
To replace them, Perrin should turn to the raw number two goal keeper Remy Vercoutre and Cleber Anderson, another boy from Brazil recently acquired from Benfica.
If new Italian left-back and World Cup winner Fabio Grosso offers a great deal on the overlap, the same cannot be said of the former Inter Milan's defending, which can be slapdash at times.
HOT GOSSIP:
During the off-season winger Sidney Govou caused a storm with his public criticism of Juninho, claiming the latter benefited from special treatment from club management and that it was having a divisive effect on the dressing room. Juninho angrily denied it and resigned the captaincy in a huff.
Brazilian striker Fred - he of the baby's dummy goal celebration - incensed his employers by taking part in this summer's Copa America without the club's permission. To make matters worse, he broke a bone in his foot while in Venezuela, resulting in a three-month lay-off. Fred will miss his team's first three Champions League ties because of suspension after TV cameras caught him elbowing Christian Chivu off the ball in last season's fixture with Roma,
IDEAL LINE UP:
Vercoutre, Grosso, Cleber, Bodmer, Clerc, Toulalan, Kallstrom, Ben Arfa, Juninho, Keita, Benzema.
THE VERDICT:
After a summer of change, there is some evidence that it's the end of an era at Lyon, but provided they can adjust to their new tactical set-up, they still have enough quality in their ranks to make the knock-out rounds.
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