The broadcast of the match began with a close-up of Alex Ferguson. Manchester’s helmsman decided to meet first-hand the current version of Lille, who tormented the English in the last league championship. Next to Sir Alex was his assistant, Carlos Keyros. In the hands of both were visible notebooks. These shots are the best recommendation for Lille, whose ability to adapt to the opponent has already been overgrown with legends.
The notebooks were indeed in place. Based on the rivalry of the leading clubs in France, you can compile a guide to tactics. The teams immediately squeezed each other in the grip of pressure, leaving the forwards without work. A typical French game went: football for coaching abstracts.
As a rule, the confrontations between Lille and Lyon become a decoration of the championship. High speeds, goals, spectacle. But not this time. The teams made a very informed choice. They clearly wanted to put foreign scouts on the wrong track. Lille coach Claude Puel left his main striker Peter Odemwindzhi in reserve. Gerard Houlier did not have Juninho Pernambucano due to disqualification.
You should not have expected bright football also because both clubs are now clearly not on the rise. Curious: “Lyon” lost four of their last seven matches, “Lille” is on a similar schedule. It turns out that two champion champions lost their form at the same time. Is it a coincidence? Hardly. Then what is it?
Probably, on the eve of the restart of the league, Lille and Lyon gave themselves more intense training loads, intentionally sacrificing points in the championship. “Lyon” was burned from time to time in the quarter finals, so now you need to do work on mistakes at any cost. And taking into account the gap in the championship table, the planned decline is quite permissible.
Lille is also gradually gaining European experience. In the last league, Manchester could not score at least once in two matches, and in the current draw the French defeated Milan on his field. The taste of Eurosuccess has already been assimilated. Defeats from the Sedan and Toulouse are an appropriate payment for the chance to thunder throughout Europe.
The “Lille” scored striker Joan Odel, who came out only for the fourth match of the season. Alex Ferguson probably shrugged in bewilderment. But then it was even cooler. Claude Puell, with a winning score, replaced midfielder Mathieu Bodmer with forward Odemwindi. It fit into the game logic, but not in the coach’s views of Puel. He had never made such replacements in such situations before! Ferguson's notebook probably had a weighty question mark.
Yielding, "Lyon" did not show the slightest concern. Such is the behavior of a boa constrictor, which does not allow the thought that it could become someone else's victim. Representatives of "Roma" during the broadcast did not show. But we can safely assume that they were in turmoil. “Lyon” looked frankly weak: no speed, no thought, no aggression. But how to believe the eyes? Will he be like that in the Champions League? No, there is definitely something wrong here.
“Lyon” just waited for two “standards” and used the small flaws of goalkeeper “Lille” Tony Silva. Of course, the champion sincerely rejoiced in the victory, and Lille was very nervous because of the defeat. But it seems that confusing future rivals was more important than proving their strength today. French clubs, like seasoned robbers, cleaned the apartment and left no residue. Perfect robbery. And now let the scouts from Rome and Manchester rack their brains over the scribbled notebooks.
Timur CRANES
LILLE - LYON - 1: 2 (0: 0)
Goals: 1: 0 - Odel (52), 1: 1 - Fred (81), 1: 2 - Skillachi (89).
LILLE: Silva, Tavlaridis, Schmitz, Tafforo, Lichtsteiner, Cabaye, Bastos (Obraniak, 74), Bodmer (Foverg, 64), Makun, Odel (Odemvigny, 79), Abdul Keita.
LYON: Coupe, Claire, Chris, Reveyer (Govu, 61), Abidal, Skillachi, Chestrom, Malouda (Ben Arfa, 78), Tulian, Fabio Santos (Baroche, 61), Fred.
Warnings: Lichtsteiner (85), Chris (87), Ben Arfa (90), Foverg (90 + 2).
February 16th. "Stadium Nord", 23.00.
Judge: Thierry Oriac.