15 points ahead of the first lap - France record. For the first time in their champion history, Lyon is so obviously stronger than the rest. The apotheosis of this superiority was the match in Lance, where “Lyon” entered the field without center forwards and, nevertheless, butchered the closest “pursuer” 4-0. The French leader’s game has such a huge margin of safety that it seems that Lyon can play even without a goalkeeper. The result will not be affected.
In fact, Lyon is no laughing matter. The tournament situation leaves the team the right to make a mistake literally in every match. And it's like a time bomb, whose mechanism usually works in the Champions League.
So why in France there is no struggle for the championship?
Paris-Saint-Germain was simply obliged to enter this struggle. A team with means, with a name and traditions. But the trouble is, once starting to change players, coaches and even presidents, PSG still won’t stop. “There is money - no mind needed,” - the shameful credo of the metropolitan team. The current PSG championship began with a home slap from the rookie Loriana - and it immediately seemed unkind. Parisians are now in 16th place with ten losses. Catastrophe.
Prior to Lyon, PSG - 31 points.
Meanwhile, Lyon is the leader in all possible indicators. There was a moment when the tightly clogged Nancy missed less, but now it is in the past. It happens that “Lyon” is difficult for home games. Many, but almost all, come to the "Stud Gerlyan" as if they were hunting. It looks like going to a wild boar with a penknife, but some almost succeed: for example, the newcomer Valenciennes drove 1-0 five minutes before the end, until Lyon remembered about two of his seemingly not very sharp fangs. The central defenders Chris and Skilachchi pierced the enemy, and he fell another victim - albeit very brave.
In 19 matches, Lyon scored 39 goals. And he missed only 11 - half as much as Bordeaux, the defensive opening of last season.
It seemed that it was Bordeaux that would be able to sit on the tail of Lyon. But the attempt to strengthen for the Champions League played with Bordeaux a cruel joke. Retro star Joan Miku was never able to become a full-fledged part of the team. Coach Ricardo Gomez, as he thought, started a small repair, and in the end, first wallpaper, then parquet, and so on. Now the Lyon choir is very far away.
To Lyon Bordeaux - 21 points.
The only defeat to “Lyon” was done by “Rennes”, catching the leader on a clear lack of motivation. Such misfires are actually necessary, like prevention. After them, the Ulle team plays even clearer. The main thing is that Lyon does not allow itself weakness in games with, so to speak, direct competitors. He brings them mandatory and already boring four goals, you can bend your fingers: with Lille - 4: 1, with Marseille - 4: 1, with Lance - 4: 0. And only PSG, it can be said, resisted - 3: 1.
Speaking of Marseille. After all, he has been swaggering for years. The southerners gave an excellent start, and then the inexperience of the coach began to affect: Albert Emon went all his life as assistants. And then there is the loss of the leader - Frank Ribery. The Marseilles were completely at a loss. A serious team cannot afford four defeats in a row. And Marseille allowed. He also lost to Loriana dry at home when the third goalkeeper of the team defended at that goal. Third! Ironically, the pupil of "Lyon".
To Lyon, Marcel - 20 points.
“Olyas bought everything!” - France, weary of hegemony, could proclaim. The all-powerful head of Lyon, Jean-Michel Olyas, really buys the very best for his team. Thanks to the presidential instinct and ingenuity, "Lyon" is growing. The departure of the held stars is not only not an obstacle to this growth, but also its almost indispensable condition. The Moors do their job and leave. New ones appear and grow with the team. Properly delivered case.
Lille is also trying to live - probably the most dangerous of the quoted competitors of Lyon. When Olyas decides that Gerard Houlier has worked out, he will call Claude Puel. But while Puel is in charge of Lille, France has another team whose game can be called exemplary. Everything is in place, everything is balanced. Only the class is missing. That's why they lose out of the blue - in the penultimate round, for example, to the hopeless outsider Sedan.
Before Lyon, Lille has 19 points.
But in France there will be a smart fight for champions. A good dozen teams set their sights on the spot “under Lyon”. They are all so rambunctious and unpredictable that the game of the king of the hill will last until the last round. Just “Lyon” will arrive in time from space.
Timur CRANES