Le Championnat [Archive] - Page 2

BB Bob

23-03-2008, 09:17 AM

Ligue 1, Matchday 30

Valenciennes 3
Roudet 10, Sebo 64, Savidan 78

Bordeaux 1
Wendel 14

Match Stats

Valenciennes produced a shock at Stade Nungesser when they inflicted a 3-1 defeat on Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux to virtually end the visitors' hopes of claiming the Ligue 1 title.

Two goals in the opening 15 minutes made for a spectacular start to the match but it was Valenciennes who went on to claim all three points with one of their best home performances of the season.

Sebastien Roudet netted the opener when he put in a cross-shot that fooled visiting goalkeeper Ulrich Rame. But the visitors equalised four minutes later when Wendel, back after a fortnight on the sidelines with injury, netted his 11th Ligue 1 goal of the campaign thanks to a superb 25-yard free-kick.

The game remained a fast, intense affair and the next goal always looked likely to be crucial. The hosts got it when Rudy Mater crossed from the left and Filip Sebo finished coolly after the far post on 64 minutes.

Bordeaux pressed for an equaliser but succeeded only in leaving more spaces at the back and Valenciennes, by now rampant going forward, made the points safe with the best goal of the game 12 minutes from time – just a minute after Mathieu Valverde replaced the injured Rame in the Bordeaux goal. It was an exceptional individual effort by Valenciennes' top scorer Steve Savidan, who produced a stunning bicycle kick volley at the far post following a corner. It was his 10th Ligue 1 goal of the season.

Nancy 2
Hadji 51, Zerka 88

Metz 1
Bessat 87

Match Stats

Two goals in the last five minutes brought drama to the Lorraine derby as Nancy netted a late winner to earn the points.

Moncef Zerka's strike two minutes from time gave Pablo Correa's hosts a vital 2-1 triumph which may prove vital in their hunt for a Champions League qualifying place, but the result was harsh on a Metz side that did enough over 90 minutes to earn a point.

Nearly all the action came in the second-half, starting with the opening goal on 51 minutes when Benjamin Gavanon swung a corner to the far post and Youssouf Hadji beat Metz goalkeeper Christophe Marichez to net his seventh goal of the season. Metz responded when their Switzerland international Daniel Gygax nearly equalised 22 minutes from time with a stunning shot that Nancy goalkeeper Gennaro Bracigliano brilliantly turned away. Teenage striker Rudy Gestede came even closer on 75 minutes when he met a Gygax pull-back but Hadji, of all people, cleared the ball off the line.

Metz looked to have earned a point when Vincent Bessat equalised from Gestede's cross three minutes from time but Nancy regained the advantage a minute later as Zerka pounced on a loose ball in the box and fired unstoppably home. Nancy right-back Mickael Chretien was sent off in injury-time for a second yellow card but it was too late for Metz to profit as the visitors left with no points.

Marseille 0

Sochaux 1
N'Daw 3

Match Stats

Marseille's Champions League hopes suffered a crushing blow as Sochaux earned a shock 1-0 win at the Stade Velodrome to climb out of the relegation zone.

Guirane N'Daw's spectacular 40-yard lob in the third minute won the game as Marseille were unable to find the target in the remaining 88 minutes. This was their first defeat on home soil since September.

The result capped a disappointing week for Marseille after their French Cup last elimination at the hands of amateurs Carquefou on Wednesday night but Francis Gillot's visitors fully deserved the points.

The crucial goal was good enough to win any match, as Senegal midfielder N'Daw spotted Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda off his line and showed stunning technique to find the net from just inside Marseille's half. The same player had the chance to double Sochaux's lead on 15 minutes but fluffed a much easier chance from close range with just Mandanda to beat.

The closest Marseille came to scoring was in the 56th minute when midfielder Modeste M'Bami struck a post from 25 yards but, that chance aside, the hosts looked a shadow of the sides we've seen in recent weeks as they struggled to create opportunities. Djibril Cisse and substitute Elliot Grandin forced Sochaux goalkeeper Teddy Richert into saves in the final 15 minutes but Sochaux were good value for their win and move up to 16th.

Nice 1
Kone 51

Lorient 2
Vahirua 10, Saifi 71

Match Stats

Strike partners Marama Vahirua and Rafik Saifi scored a goal apiece as Lorient secured an impressive victory over a Nice side whose season is now beginning to unravel.

It was the visitors who began the match the sharper of the two sides, and in virtually the first attack of the game, Nice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris had to be alert to the threat posed by the Lorient forwards. Just 10 minutes in he was powerless to prevent that threat becoming a goal. A pinpoint cross from left-back Jeremy Morel found Vahirua unmarked on the penalty spot and the Tahitian striker promptly smashed in his first league goal since early December.

As the half wore on, Lorient looked the more likely of the two to score, but deep in first-half injury time they were indebted to goalkeeper Fabien Audard who brilliantly saved at the feet of the onrushing Habib Bamogo. Spurred on by the chance, Nice started the second half strongly and within five minutes were on level terms, Ederson setting up Bakari Kone to fire in a 10th league goal of the season.

With so much to play for in the second half, both sides went for the win, but it was the ever-threatening Vahirua-Saifi partnership that came up trumps for Lorient manager Christian Gourcuff. Vahirua sent captain Sylvain Marchal clear on the left and the defender's cross was met at the near post by Saifi who coolly converted his 10th of the season.

Toulouse 1
Gignac 61

Le Mans 1
Yebda 28

Match Stats

A second-half equaliser from substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac (although some sources accredited the strike as an own goal by Le Mans defender Geder) kept alive Toulouse's slim hopes of avoiding relegation after a gritty display against Le Mans.

Top-scorer Johan Elmander's goals have given Toulouse a fighting chance of staying up, but the Swede hasn't scored in 12 league games and his team-mates have shown little sign of shouldering the goalscoring responsibility in the meantime. Fortunately for manager Elie Baup, Gignac was on hand as the game slipped towards another damaging defeat, latching onto a long clearance from goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez to slam in a point-saving goal midway through the second half.

The home side had begun the match well, forging a couple of half-chances in the opening half-hour, but it was the visitors who made the decisive breakthrough. Neat interplay between Daisuke Matsui and Tulio De Melo created room for the Japanese player to fire in a cross that was converted with aplomb by the onrushing Hassan Yebda. That strike looked like being enough to take the points until Gignac's intervention, and with PSG just a point ahead and 17th placed Lens a further two clear, Baup's side will believe they can still get out of trouble.

Strasbourg 0

Lille 1
Mavuba 85

Match Stats

Lille remain in seventh place in Ligue 1 after another excellent win, a late strike from France international midfielder Rio Mavuba proving sufficient to beat 10-man Strasbourg.

After little in the way of first-half chances, the balance of the match swung inexorably towards Lille early in the second half when Strasbourg's Brazilian captain Rodrigo was red-carded after a late, two-footed tackle on Stefan Lichtsteiner. That gave Lille a definite advantage, but in fairness they were already well in control of the game.

Midfield duo Ludovic Obraniak and Yohan Cabaye might both have had a couple of goals in the first half alone, but having registered 15 draws already in this league campaign, another frustrating stalemate seemed likely as the chances slipped away. Finally, though, with just five minutes to go, a Lille goal materialised. It was worth the wait, too, with Obraniak's perceptive through ball releasing substitute Souleymane Youla and the young Guinean pulling the ball back expertly for Mavuba to claim a crucial three points in the race for Europe.

Auxerre 1
Benalouane own goal 6

St Etienne 3
Landrin 64, Ilan 70, Feindouno 82

Match Stats

St Etienne came from behind to record a priceless away victory at the Stade de Abbe Deschamps, scoring three goals in a 19-minute period to beat Auxerre for only the third time in 20 attempts.

This was the fourth time the two sides had met this season, with the previous three all ending level after 90 minutes. But on this occasion it didn't take long for the deadlock to be broken. A corner was swung in by Kamel Chafni and as the Auxerre forwards attacked the near post, the unfortunate defender Yohan Benalouane could only divert the ball past his own goalkeeper to present the home side with a sixth-minute lead.

Despite the setback, St Etienne refused to capitulate and kept plugging away against a resolute Auxerre defence. Just after the hour mark, they found a way back. A free kick from Pascal Feindouno was not convincingly cleared by Remy Riou in the Auxerre goal and Christophe Landrin wasted no time in dispatching the loose ball to equalise.

Better was to come for the visitors just six minutes later when the lively Bafetimbi Gomis lifted the ball beyond Riou and into the path of the grateful substitute Ilan who was left with a simple tap-in. In the space of six minutes the game had been turned on its head. Eight minutes later, to the disgust of home supporters, it was game over as Riou was again only able to half-clear a Gomis effort and Feindouno slotted home to seal all three points.

Caen 4
Hengbart (pen) 61, Sorbon 76, Gouffran 86, Jemaa 90

Monaco 1
Sambou 6

Match Stats

Caen mounted a magnificent second-half comeback to beat Monaco 4-1 and earn their first victory in 11 Ligue matches.

The win means Franck Dumas' hosts take a massive step towards avoiding relegation but they condemn beleaguered Monaco to an eighth match without a win as the Principality outfit are hovering dangerously close to the drop zone.

And yet Monaco made the ideal start when Massamba Lo Sambou netted after six minutes. The giant centre-half profited from a flick-on by Argentine midfielder Sergio Almiron in the box following a Camel Meriem corner and blasted home from close range.

But Caen were far from overawed and Benjamin Nivet twice came close to equalising before the break before les Caennais mounted a superb fightback following the restart. Anthony Deroin, who enjoyed a superb match in midfield, shot just wide 12 minutes after the restart and then Caen won a penalty when Sambou handled in the box. Hengbart made no mistake from the spot.

Caen poured forward and took the lead 14 minutes from time when centre-half Jeremy Sorbon leaped higher than marker Jeremy Berthod to head home Deroin's free-kick. Then came two late strikes to give the scoreline a decisive look – a penalty Yoann Gouffran converted and a late, powerful drive from substitute striker Issam Jemaa. The result pushes Caen up to 11th on 39pts while Monaco drop to 13th on 37pts.

BB Bob

23-03-2008, 09:18 AM

Matchday 30 - Saturday, March 22, 2008
17:10 Nancy 2 - 1 Metz
20:00 Auxerre 1 - 3 Saint Etienne
20:00 Caen 4 - 1 Monaco
20:00 Marseille 0 - 1 Sochaux
20:00 Nice 1 - 2 Lorient
20:00 Strasbourg 0 - 1 Lille
20:00 Toulouse 1 - 1 Le Mans
20:00 Valenciennes 3 - 1 Bordeaux

P W D L GD Pts
1 Lyon 29 19 4 6 +32 61
2 Bordeaux 30 16 7 7 +19 55
3 Nancy 30 13 13 4 +14 52
4 Marseille 30 12 10 8 +10 46
5 Nice 30 10 13 7 +4 43
6 Le Mans 30 12 7 11 -3 43
7 Lille 30 9 15 6 +10 42
8 Lorient 30 10 12 8 -3 42
9 Valenciennes 30 11 8 11 +7 41
10 Saint Etienne 30 11 7 12 +2 40
11 Caen 30 10 9 11 -9 39
12 Rennes 29 10 8 11 -4 38
13 Monaco 30 10 7 13 -7 37
14 Auxerre 30 10 7 13 -12 37
15 Strasbourg 30 9 8 13 -5 35
16 Sochaux 30 8 11 11 -7 35
17 Lens 29 8 10 11 -3 34
18 Paris SG 29 7 11 11 -5 32
19 Toulouse 30 6 13 11 -8 31
20 Metz 30 4 6 20 -32 18

PSG In the drop zone ahead of tonights easy 3 points at Lyons (not)

BB Bob

23-03-2008, 09:28 AM

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/rom_12.jpg

"Right. Time to find someone to thump. Starting with whoever designed this tracksuit."

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/rom_4.jpg

Earlier, a late winner for Nancy leaves then in the driving seat for the 3rd Champions League spot....

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/rom_7.jpg

...and Bordeaux's hopes like look they are taking a big fall.

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/rom_8.jpg

Toulouse keep picking up points, but, as kabbott said earlier, 1 point at a time may not be enough.

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/rom_22.jpg
Nice's hopes of European football look to be fading too, malhereusement.

À bientôt

kabbott

23-03-2008, 11:57 AM

Oh là là!

Twitchy bottom time in Paris. The draw for the quarter final of la Coupe de France has just been made:

Lyon (L1) v Metz (L1)
Amiens (L2) v Dijon (L2)
Carquefou (CFA2) v PSG (L1)
Bordeaux (L1) v Sedan (L2)

Carquefou will most probably play at Nantes' stadium in front of 40,000 supporters. The whole of France will be behind Carquefou apart from the Parisians. Will PSG make themselves more ridiculous than they already are? On verra bien ...

BB Bob

23-03-2008, 05:56 PM

Still on for the dream final - Sedan v Dijon. Only joking! Lyon v Bordeaux, of course, which would be a fitting finale to the season. But in the meantime, all together now,

"A Carquefou, à Carquefou...."

Bonne chance ce soir.

kabbott

23-03-2008, 09:46 PM

Another fine Sunday evening game on Canal+ with Lyon taking it 4:2 in the end. Lyon went 2:0 up after 30 minutes only for PSG to pull one back in added time at the end of the first half. Then PSG equalised after about 5 minutes of the second half and it looked like a real match was on. Then Benzema went off with what looked like quite a serious injury (after the match they said he would be out for 2 or 3 weeks). Lyon then knocked in another 2 goals from Govou and Junhino to win it quite easily in the end. MOM Bodmer with loads of midfield activity, two assists and a header on the bar. He could be in line for a debut against England. Pity Benzema is out. He's bloody good to watch. Lyon 9 points clear of their nearest rivals, Bordeaux.

BB Bob

24-03-2008, 08:41 AM

I saw the goals - they got better as they went on.

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/rem_216.jpg

Fred's first one was a reflex header. It's a good job that he didn't go with Benzema out

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/rem_210.jpg

Losing Benzema took the shine off the night where, barring a complete cock up, Lyon have got the title again.

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/rem_217.jpg

Surely, Rothen will be off in the summer. Even with his new bad boy haircut, he is a clasy winger and too good for this lot.

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/rem_200.jpg

Meanwhile, the druid had better get his sickle out and brew up some more magic potion. On this form, Lens are in big trouble. Rennes, on the other hand, are going from strength to strength.

Last nights results:-

dimanche 23 mars 2008
19h00 Rennes (10) 3-1 Lens (16)
20h55 Lyon (1) 4-2 Paris-SG (17)

And table:-

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Lyon 64 30 20 4 6 62 28 34
2 Bordeaux 55 30 16 7 7 52 33 19

3 Nancy 52 30 13 13 4 34 20 14

4 Marseille 46 30 12 10 8 42 32 10

5 Nice 43 30 10 13 7 27 23 4
6 Le Mans 43 30 12 7 11 34 37 -3
7 Lille 42 30 9 15 6 34 24 10
8 Lorient 42 30 10 12 8 26 29 -3
9 Valenciennes 41 30 11 8 11 36 29 7
10 Rennes 41 30 11 8 11 33 35 -2
11 Saint-Etienne 40 30 11 7 12 33 31 2
12 Caen 39 30 10 9 11 33 42 -9
13 Monaco 37 30 10 7 13 30 37 -7
14 Auxerre 37 30 10 7 13 27 39 -12
15 Strasbourg 35 30 9 8 13 29 34 -5
16 Sochaux 35 30 8 11 11 27 34 -7
17 Lens 34 30 8 10 12 34 39 -5

18 Paris-SG 32 30 7 11 12 27 34 -7
19 Toulouse 31 30 6 13 11 26 34 -8
20 Metz 18 30 4 6 20 21 53 -32

mik59

24-03-2008, 09:00 AM

Get in Caen! But get it together Lens if for no other reason than would prefer to see a top game at your place next season (and the mate of mine and stevek's that supports them would be unhappy but then as primarily a Forest fan ...)

BB Bob

24-03-2008, 09:20 AM

Lens run in

sam 29/03/08 CL - Finale Paris-SG - Lens
sam 05/04/08 L1 - 32e journée Lens - Metz
mer 09/04/08 L1 - 31e journée Saint-Etienne - Lens 16
sam 12/04/08 L1 - 33e journée Lorient - Lens
sam 19/04/08 L1 - 34e journée Lens - Sochaux
sam 26/04/08 L1 - 35e journée Le Mans - Lens
sam 03/05/08 L1 - 36e journée Lens - Monaco
sam 10/05/08 L1 - 37e journée Lille - Lens
sam 17/05/08 L1 - 38e journée Lens - Bordeaux

Pretty tough, particularly the last two. Suddendly the Coupe de la Ligue final aganst PSG on Saturday takes on biblical proportions

sam 29/03/08 CL - Finale Paris-SG - Lens
mer 02/04/08 L1 - 31e journée Paris-SG - Strasbourg 17
dim 06/04/08 L1 - 32e journée Nancy - Paris-SG
sam 12/04/08 L1 - 33e journée Paris-SG - Nice
mar 15/04/08 CO - Quarts de finale Carquefou - Paris-SG
sam 19/04/08 L1 - 34e journée Caen - Paris-SG
sam 26/04/08 L1 - 35e journée Paris-SG - Auxerre
sam 03/05/08 L1 - 36e journée Toulouse - Paris-SG
sam 10/05/08 L1 - 37e journée Paris-SG - Saint-Etienne
sam 17/05/08 L1 - 38e journée Sochaux - Paris-SG

PSGs looks easier to me (but I am the man who is hopeless at forecasting footie results!)

philsick

24-03-2008, 09:57 AM

I have roots,ties and alot of freinds in the auvergne,so follow the results of st ettiene and clermont.I see st's had a good away win on saturday and could finish top 6 ,but doubt it.How did clermont do?

kabbott

24-03-2008, 10:28 AM

Good weekend for Clermont. They beat A.C.Ajaccio 2:0 at home on Friday evening in front of 4,139 fans! Goals in the first half from Mendy (2nd min.) and Poté ( 21st min.) and a yellow card for Chauusidière (24th min.). The win puts them up to 4th place in Ligue 2 up three places from 7th and ahead of Grenoble on goal difference, Grenoble only managing a draw against bottom of the table Gueugnon. They are still 8 pts off third placed Troyes with 9 matches left to play. But anything is still possible. Clermont will be hoping for table-toppers Nantes to do them a favour next weekend in the top-of-the-table clash against Troyes. Didn't Clermont have a good run in the Coupe de France a few years back knocking out PSG along the way? Mind you, beating PSG these days isn't such an exploit!

BB Bob

24-03-2008, 01:50 PM

Troyes look like they are getting late season wobbles but the Nantes are flattering to deceive too. Doesn't bode too well for next season if either of them go up. Good for the chasing pack, though!

kabbott

24-03-2008, 03:17 PM

Yes but same phenomenon as in England - Straight up, straight down. Sometimes I get the feeling that the gap between Ligue 1 et Ligue 2 is bigger here than in England. Clubs in Ligue 1 never seem to want to buy Ligue 2 players. OK there's one exception and I'll have to check this out. PSG, I think have signed Le Havre's top scorer Horeau for the end of the season. Oh dear! Good move for the boy. Looks like he'll be stuck in Ligue 2 next season. Hope he's got some kind of option whereby he doesn't go if PSG are relegated.

BB Bob

24-03-2008, 04:57 PM

Didn't Metz have a record points total last year?

kabbott

24-03-2008, 06:12 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Didn't Metz have a record points total last year?

You've got me there BB Bob. I know they got 76 points which doesn't seem that brilliant. All I do know is that Amiens broke the record for the highest number of points in last year's Ligue 2 (69 pts) without getting promoted. By putting 2 and 2 together, I would have thought that 76 pts was not the record. I'll try and check that one out.

BB Bob

24-03-2008, 07:14 PM

Don't go mad checking it. I thought I read somewhere/heard a commentator say that although they did really well last year, they looked absolutely awful this year. That was certainly true until Christmas, but they seem to have turned it round a bit now,

Presumably, just in time to romp away with Ligue 2 next year and then get relegated from Ligue 1 etc. etc. etc.

I could be showing my ignorance here, but doesn't Ligue 2 have another of the grand old teams of french football, Reims?

Le Mans have shown, I suppose, that you can have your time in the sun - they certainly aren't the biggest of teams!

kabbott

24-03-2008, 08:13 PM

I have gone checking but I haven't gone mad. The real difficulty is, in fact, that Ligue 2 as it's now called has undergone many different changes through history, such as 2 regional 'ligues' very much like our own D3 North and South jobs way back when. Then there was a time when it was 'open' with both amateur and professional teams. Its current format is actually quite recent i.e. the 90s or something like that. So it could be that the score of 76 pts does constitute a record. Going through some other info I saw that the highest goalscorer was a certain P.Nicolas (no, not him) who managed the meagre total of 45 goals in one season in 1935ish! Most teams barely get that in one season now. Oh well! More fascinating Ligue 1 facts to come ... and why not National, CFA1, CFA2, DH (division d'honneur), ligue, district etc.

BB Bob

25-03-2008, 07:18 AM

Resulats and table for L2

-› Friday, March 21, 2008
20:00 Bastia 0 - 1 Guingamp
20:00 Brest 4 - 2 Niort
20:00 Châteauroux 1 - 0 Montpellier
20:00 Clermont 2 - 0 Ajaccio
20:00 Gueugnon 1 - 1 Grenoble
20:00 Libourne-St Seurin 2 - 0 Troyes
20:00 Reims 0 - 1 Angers
20:30 Nantes 2 - 1 Dijon
-› Saturday, March 22, 2008
20:00 Sedan 1 - 1 Amiens
-› Monday, March 24, 2008
20:30 Le Havre 2 - 0 Boulogne

Ligue 2 Orange P W D L GD Pts
1 Le Havre 29 18 8 3 +26 62
2 Nantes 29 17 8 4 +21 59
3 Troyes 29 15 8 6 +13 53

4 Clermont 29 11 12 6 +9 45
5 Grenoble 29 12 9 8 +8 45
6 Bastia 28 12 7 9 +9 42
7 Montpellier 29 11 9 9 +7 42
8 Sedan 29 10 11 8 +3 41
9 Brest 29 11 8 10 -4 41
10 Guingamp 29 10 10 9 +2 40
11 Angers 29 10 10 9 0 40
12 Châteauroux 29 9 9 11 -3 36
13 Ajaccio 29 9 9 11 -8 36
14 Amiens 29 8 9 12 -3 33
15 Reims 28 9 6 13 -9 33
16 Boulogne 29 8 6 15 -14 30
17 Dijon 29 6 12 11 -15 30

18 Libourne St Seurin 29 6 9 14 -11 27
19 Niort 29 7 6 16 -13 27
20 Gueugnon 29 2 10 17 -18 16

BB Bob

25-03-2008, 07:20 AM

...and, because I know you love it, the National

vendredi 21 mars 2008
20h00 Sète (4) 1-0 Romorantin (17)
Nîmes (5) 2-1 Rodez (10)
Laval (7) 3-0 Cannes (11)
Istres (8) 2-0 Pau (19)
samedi 22 mars 2008
18h00 Créteil (15) 3-0 Arles (12)
à Villemomble (93) Villemomble (20) 1-0 Calais (14)
19h00 Louhans-Cuiseaux (18) 3-1 Martigues (16)
19h30 Vannes OC (1) 1-0 Entente SSG (9)
20h00 Tours FC (2) 3-3 Paris FC (6)
Beauvais (13) 1-1 Cherbourg (3)

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Vannes OC 56 29 17 5 7 40 26 14
2 Tours FC 49 29 14 7 8 39 25 14
3 Sète 47 29 12 11 6 32 18 14

4 Laval 46 29 11 13 5 40 21 19
5 Cherbourg 46 29 13 7 9 34 29 5
- Nîmes 46 29 12 10 7 34 29 5
7 Istres 45 29 12 9 8 31 27 4
8 Paris FC 44 29 11 11 7 44 38 6
9 Entente SSG 42 29 13 3 13 36 38 -2
10 Rodez 38 29 11 5 13 30 34 -4
11 Créteil 36 29 8 12 9 30 26 4
12 Beauvais 36 29 9 9 11 33 37 -4
13 Cannes 36 29 8 12 9 31 36 -5
14 Arles 35 29 7 14 8 23 28 -5
15 Calais 34 29 7 13 9 34 31 3
16 Martigues 31 29 7 10 12 29 36 -7

17 Romorantin 30 29 7 9 13 27 37 -10
18 Louhans-Cuiseaux 29 29 7 8 14 34 51 -17
19 Villemomble 27 29 5 12 12 20 31 -11
20 Pau 25 29 7 4 18 25 48 -23

kabbott

25-03-2008, 04:52 PM

Of course we're all hoping that Sète go up and that Troyes stay down and then we'll have that match with that score:

Sète 3:7 Troyes

Ha ha!

Remember

East Fife 4:5 Forfar ?

BB Bob

25-03-2008, 06:47 PM

Ho ho ho! I've never heard that one before (but I have personally heard the Forfar East Fife scoreline!). Another good reason to cheer on Clermont for the rest of the season!

How do you fancy France' chances tomorrow? To me, it will be a bit like two grande dames swinging their handbags at each other. For France, I assume that Ribery will be playing, but with Benzema out it'll be a bit short of excitement. Is there someone we should be watching out for (and no, the nearly man of french football, Trezeguet, doesn't count)?

kabbott

25-03-2008, 07:22 PM

If you didn't know there is a French team (a sort of reserve 11 from the group of 39) playing against Mali tonight. It's on French Eurosport live. I'm actually watching it on the Eurosport video site. Don't know if you can get that over there. The team is (I think)
Mandanda
Delpierre Boumsong Rami Clichy
Nasri Briand Bodmer Rothen Mavuba
Sinama-Pongolle

The surprise is that Ben Arfa is only sub. It might mean he'll get a game tomorrow since Malouda is lacking match practice. It's 1:0 to France A' with a gol from Nasri.

kabbott

25-03-2008, 07:39 PM

Half-time 2:0 Rothen doubles the score from the penalty spot.

kabbott

25-03-2008, 07:45 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Ho ho ho! I've never heard that one before (but I have personally heard the Forfar East Fife scoreline!). Another good reason to cheer on Clermont for the rest of the season!

How do you fancy France' chances tomorrow? To me, it will be a bit like two grande dames swinging their handbags at each other. For France, I assume that Ribery will be playing, but with Benzema out it'll be a bit short of excitement. Is there someone we should be watching out for (and no, the nearly man of french football, Trezeguet, doesn't count)?

To be honest, I can't see much happening tomorrow. Domenech is moaning about all his injured players, so many that he's had to call up Trezegol (God, is that man thick!); Ribéry is the only one looking out for, unless Ben Arfa gets a run out; that depends on whether he plays tonight. Apart from that 22 players walking around the pitch trying not to get injured.

BB Bob

25-03-2008, 08:00 PM

I was reading l'Equipe on the train tonight, so I was pleased to see that Lloris has got a call up to the As. Be good if he gets a run out. Also, Bodmer is there. Is he playing? He seems to be finishing the season strongly.

kabbott

25-03-2008, 09:04 PM

Shocking news here from France during the 'B' match against Mali which France won 3:2. The score pales into insignificance after the announcement of the passing away of Thierry Gilardi (due to a heart attack), France's number 1 football commentator, who was due to commentate tommorow's match on TF1 (France's most popular T.V. channel). Jesus, he was 49, he's left a wife and three kids. This man knew his football. He was one of the Canal+ team that revolutionised football commentary in the 80s, much like SKY in England, until his big-money transfer to TF1 5 or 3 years ago. Presumably the match will still be taking place but it puts all the rest into perspective. For the French, the match won't be the same. RIP Thierry.

BB Bob

25-03-2008, 10:28 PM

I can't claim to know France as well, but it seems as though he was M. Sport in France, doing the Rugby and the Football commentary. And 49 is no age to be having heart attacks! Christ, we are all hovering around that door and suddenly stopping (for lack of a better word) at that age has not really entered the gameplan yet.

I can't remember who it was who said it, but there is a lot of truth in the phrase "Getting older isn't so bad when you consider what the alternatives are". Maybe we all need to remember that next time we creak out of bad on a damp morning and, of course, think of Thierry Gilardi and his family.

http://s.tf1.fr/mmdia/i/26/9/2495269_224.jpg

BB Bob

26-03-2008, 12:52 PM

Uh oh. Here comes trouble for les Gones...

Wenger keen on Lyon ace
Wenger a big admirer of Lyon starlet

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed he is interested in signing Lyon winger Hatem Ben Arfa.

Ben Arfa is one of the most sought-after young players in Europe after impressing for Lyon in the last few seasons.

Manchester United were linked with a move for Ben Arfa and team-mate Karim Benzema last month, while Spurs have held a long-term interest in the former.

The 21-year-old still has two years to run on his contract and Lyon are hoping to tie him down to a new long-term deal.

Wenger is a big admirer of his fellow Frenchman and admits he would be at the head of the queue if Ben Arfa became available.

"If Ben Arfa is for sale, then we are very interested," Wenger told French tv programme Telefoot.

"He is a great player and Arsenal is a potential destination for any great player."

Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Barnsley goalkeeper Heinz Muller.

Muller impressed earlier this season at Oakwell before suffering a serious knee injury which has ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Wenger could be in the market for a new keeper in the summer as doubts surround the future of Jens Lehmann

Latvian Eagle

27-03-2008, 09:07 AM

Do you guys actually follow a certain team!? Mine has always been Marseille (Chris Waddle etc), but I also have a soft spot for Nantes.

BB Bob

27-03-2008, 09:22 AM

I follow Nice mainly because I go there lots! Great City - well worth a vist. Not the best of teams, though, it has to be said, but playing above themselves this year. I have a soft spot for Marseille, too, as one of the sleeping giants of European football. Lyons probably play the best football in France and are usually entertaining to watch.

Everyone dislike PSG, though! But would le Championnat be the same without them? Maybe we could cope for one season just for the pleasure of seeing them relegated. The fact that they are Anelka's favourite team is just a bonus!

I also keep an eye on Angers in L2 (friends used to live close to there, so I know the area) and Nîmes in the National.

Abjekt

27-03-2008, 11:26 AM

I follow Bordeaux because they are my local team [I spend a lot of time down in the South West where we have a house].

I don't have a soft spot for Marseille, haha. Don't know why, just don't really like them. My soft spot goes to Toulouse because they're local to me too.

Latvian Eagle

27-03-2008, 11:36 AM

Oh it also helps that Marseille for much of the 90's were in the 2nd division! :p

kabbott

27-03-2008, 11:52 AM

Well I live in Lyon so my choice isn't that hard. I get to see a couple of matches per season. I'm quite admirative of the way the club's been run. When the current President, Aulas, took over in 1987 they were in Ligue 2. Since then Lyon were promoted to Ligue 1, and after consolidating their place in the top league, they've got better and better. They've always been pretty shrewd in the transfer market too, selling Essien and Malouda to Chelski for loadsa money and Diarra to Real Madrid too, and buying in young promising players to replace them. Plus, of course, they've got an excellent Academy set-up, the latest stars being Benzema and Ben Arfa. Don't forget Clerc and Govou who played last night also came through Lyon's Academy.
Allez l'OL!

GodstoneEagle

27-03-2008, 12:16 PM

i think clerc is very under-rated

kabbott

27-03-2008, 12:55 PM

Originally posted by GodstoneEagle
i think clerc is very under-rated

I totally agree. He's a quiet bloke who just does his job. And he sometimes gets slagged off because he's lacking in personality. He hasn't been seen in clubs in the early hours, he hasn't done any GBH on anyone. That suits me. Oh and he put in a great ball for Anelka to run on to last night.

BB Bob

28-03-2008, 10:37 AM

Time for some more dodgy match predictions:-

Matchday 31 - Saturday, March 29, 2008
17:10 Bordeaux Nancy

A tough, tough game for Bordeaux this week. After last week at Valenciennes, they simply have to get back on track. The trouble is that Nancy have the best defence in the league. Another nail in Bordeaux's coffin, I think, and a draw.

Matchday 31 - Sunday, March 30, 2008
16:00 Le Mans Caen

Great result for Caen last week, but I can't look beyond Le Mans at home, I'm afraid. Home win

16:00 Lille Auxerre

Lille have drawn 15 of their 30 games this season, but Auxerre's away form is poor. With an unlikely Euro spot on the cards, home win.

16:00 Metz Toulouse

What's going to happen to Toulouse? Too many draws, short of confidence, playing a Metz team who are resigned to relegation but determined to finish well. Looks like a draw to me (much as I would like to see les Violets get 3 points)

16:00 Sochaux Nice

Nice would struggle to beat an egg at the moment but are, amazingly, still fifth. Can they turn it around at Sochaux? Well, Sochaux have only won at home twice this season and, with Nice's stingy defense, I am going for the draw.

16:00 Valenciennes Lyon

Excellent interview in a couple of places this week with Steve Savidan, the man they used to call le p'tit con when he was at Angers. Result of the season for Valenciennes last week at home to Bordeaux. Can they repeat it this week? In a word, no. Lyon look in terrific form at the moment and, with the title in sight, I expect them to finish strongly. Away win.

20:55 Lorient Marseille

Wow. A week is a long time in football. Marseille had one to forget last week and it's time now to get the season back on track. Lorient isn't an easy place to go, though, and with Vahirua and Safri on form up front, I'm going for the draw.

Matchday 31 - Monday, March 31, 2008
19:00 Monaco Rennes

Rennes looking good, Monaco not. Rennes are 5 points of a Euro spot and may decide to go for it and with morale in Monaco low, may get a result. Away win.

League Cup Final - Saturday, March 29, 2008
21:00 Lens PSG

The game that neither team wants, I guess, as survival in L1 is more important to both of them. As long as PSG don't feel they are playing at home, I expect they have enough to see off a Lens team that simply can't stop conceding goals. Probably close, though (cue a 4-0 result to one of them!)

Enjoy the games

BB Bob

29-03-2008, 07:40 AM

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/uk0708_PSG_Lens_celeb_mono.jpg

Final preview: PSG v Lens
Who will win the trophy this year? Paul Le Guen's capital outfit meet Jean-Pierre Papin's challengers in one of the highlights of the French football season at the Stade de France on Saturday night.

Coupe de la Ligue final
PSG v Lens
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Stade de France, Paris
Live on Setanta Sports, 7.45pm

When your league season is flirting with disaster, the fans are getting on your back and you've just suffered yet another heavy Ligue 1 defeat, what better way to forget your worries, temporarily at least, than by competing for a piece of silverware, and place in European competition, in front of 80,000 fans at the Stade de France?

That's the situation for PSG and Lens as they battle it out to lift the Coupe de la Ligue on Saturday night. This is always a major highlight in the French domestic football calendar and takes on even greater importance for these two clubs and their passionate sets of supporters because it's the best chance of celebrating all season.

It is difficult now to believe that the two clubs kicked off the season among the title favourites. Paul Le Guen's capital revolution, which started when he took over at PSG in January 2007, was expected to gather pace as the season went on, while Guy Roux's arrival at Lens heralded a wave of optimism in the nord, with fans and journalists alike tipping the Sang et Or to pose a major threat to Lyon's prolonged supremacy.

Impeccable form

It hasn't worked out like that. Roux lasted less than two months in his post, walking away after realising he would never be able to recreate the managerial magic of his decades in charge at Auxerre, while PSG developed a nasty case of Parc-itis – an inability to win at Parc des Princes – that lasted until the winter break. A disastrous first-half of the Ligue 1 season for both clubs is why they now find themselves fighting against relegation – PSG are in the bottom three, with Lens just one place and two points above them.

But in the Coupe de la Ligue, they have been impeccable. PSG scored a magnificent 3-0 victory away to Lorient last September and haven't looked back. They beat Ligue 2 visitors Montpellier 2-0 in the last 16 and thrashed Valenciennes 4-0 in the quarter-finals at the Parc des Princes. In the semi-finals, again on home soil, Le Guen's men saw off Auxerre 3-2.

Lens have had arguably the tougher run to the Stade de France. They beat local rivals Lille 1-0 in the last 32 and produced an excellent performance to beat Monaco at Stade Louis II in the last 16. They blew-away high-flying Ligue 1 opponents Nancy 3-0 in the last eight before defeating Le Mans 5-4 in extra-time in the semi-finals in one of the most thrilling games the competition has ever produced.

Pauleta injury worry

PSG have the major injury worry going into the final as Pauleta is uncertain to play. The former Portugal international is the competition's leading scorer with five goals but may not make it as he's suffering from a thigh strain. A decision will be made on Friday afternoon. PSG's Colombia international centre-half Mario Yepes is already ruled out with a calf injury. Teenager Mamadou Sakho is expected to come in to partner Zoumana Camara. Up front, Peguy Luyindula has just returned from injury and will partner Cameroonian Amara Diane if Pauleta is unfit.

Lens have fewer injury worries. Milan Bisevac limped out of Lens' 3-1 defeat at Rennes last Sunday but isn't a regular anyway, meaning Jean-Pierre Papin and sporting director Daniel Leclercq have virtually a full squad to pick from. Serious competition for places exists up front, where four players are battling for three places. Toifilou Maoulida's goal against Rennes last weekend may get him the nod, which will leave Aruna Dindane and Olivier Monterrubio fighting it out for the left-wing berth in Papin's 4-2-3-1 formation.

Whoever earns selection up front for Lens, and all over the pitch for both teams, will give everything. For one weekend only, relegation worries will be put aside as the two sides fight to write their names into the history books. Tune in for a thrilling night of action.

Probable teams

PSG: Landreau – Ceara, Yepes, Sakho, Armand – Chantome, Bourillon, Clement, Rothen – Diane, Luyindula

Lens: Runje – Laurenti, Coulibaly, Hilton, Belhadj – Kovacevic, Mangane – Demont, Remy, Aruna – Maoulida

Routes to the final

PSG

Last 32
Lorient 0-3 PSG
Ngog 21, 44, Pauleta 85

Last 16
PSG 2-0 Montpellier
Pauleta 7, 93

Quarter-finals
PSG 4-0 Valenciennes
Pauleta 2 (pen), Diane 54, 59, Rothen 65

Semi-finals
PSG 3-2 Auxerre
Yepes 30, Pauleta 42, Mendy 78 for PSG; Landreau own goal 72, Quercia 92 for Auxerre

Lens

Last 32
Lens 1-0 Lille
Pieroni 7

Last 16
Monaco 1-2 Lens
Piquionne 15 for Monaco; Boukari 15, Carriere 82 for Lens

Quarter-finals
Lens 3-0 Nancy
Demont 16, Maoulida 44, Monterrubio (pen) 59

Semi-finals
Le Mans 4-5 Lens (aet)
Gervinho 23, Yebda 45, Matsui 65, De Melo 66 for Le Mans; De Melo own goal 36, Remy 45, Dindane 53, Pele own goal 63, Keita 118 for Lens

BB Bob

29-03-2008, 07:42 AM

Unfortunately, Clermont failed to put any pressure on Troyes last night, losing 2-1 at Angers

-› Friday, March 28, 2008
20:00 Ajaccio 1 - 1 Brest
20:00 Angers 2 - 1 Clermont
20:00 Boulogne 2 - 0 Bastia
20:00 Dijon 2 - 1 Gueugnon
20:00 Guingamp 1 - 2 Grenoble
20:00 Montpellier 0 - 0 Reims
20:00 Niort 2 - 1 Libourne-St Seurin
20:30 Amiens 1 - 3 Le Havre

Ligue 2 Orange P W D L GD Pts
1 Le Havre 30 19 8 3 +28 65
2 Nantes 29 17 8 4 +21 59
3 Troyes 29 15 8 6 +13 53
4 Grenoble 30 13 9 8 +9 48
5 Clermont 30 11 12 7 +8 45
6 Montpellier 30 11 10 9 +7 43
7 Angers 30 11 10 9 +1 43
8 Bastia 29 12 7 10 +7 42
9 Brest 30 11 9 10 -4 42
10 Sedan 29 10 11 8 +3 41
11 Guingamp 30 10 10 10 +1 40
12 Ajaccio 30 9 10 11 -8 37
13 Châteauroux 29 9 9 11 -3 36
14 Reims 29 9 7 13 -9 34
15 Amiens 30 8 9 13 -5 33
16 Boulogne 30 9 6 15 -12 33
17 Dijon 30 7 12 11 -14 33
18 Niort 30 8 6 16 -12 30
19 Libourne St Seurin 30 6 9 15 -12 27
20 Gueugnon 30 2 10 18 -19 16

kabbott

29-03-2008, 03:07 PM

Loto sportif

Bordeaux v Nancy home win
Le Mans v Caen home win
Lille v Auxerre home win
Metz v Toulouse home win
Sochaux v Nice home win
Valenciennes v Lyon away win
Lorient v Marseille home win
Monaco v Rennes draw

Tonight's finale de la Coupe de la Ligue could be a corker. Crap defences. So goals galore. 4:3 to PSG after extra time! Bon match!

GodstoneEagle

29-03-2008, 04:42 PM

n'gog to score late winner off the bench. allez PSG

kabbott

29-03-2008, 05:29 PM

Originally posted by kabbott
Loto sportif

Bordeaux v Nancy home win
Le Mans v Caen home win
Lille v Auxerre home win
Metz v Toulouse home win
Sochaux v Nice home win
Valenciennes v Lyon away win
Lorient v Marseille home win
Monaco v Rennes draw

Tonight's finale de la Coupe de la Ligue could be a corker. Crap defences. So goals galore. 4:3 to PSG after extra time! Bon match!

One out of one for me!
Bordeaux scraped a 2:1 victory with 2 more from Cavenaghi (?) against Nancy who finished the game with 9 men! More later.

philsick

29-03-2008, 07:27 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Unfortunately, Clermont failed to put any pressure on Troyes last night, losing 2-1 at Angers
:(

kabbott

29-03-2008, 08:04 PM

Originally posted by philsick
:(

Yeah, bad news, I'm afraid. They actually went 1:0 up in the 6th minute through Poté, only for Angers to hit back with 2 before the break. Clermont had a couple of chances near the end to salvage something, but their chances of going up are pretty slim now. They're fifth now 'cos Grenoble won and have leapfrogged over them.

BB Bob

29-03-2008, 09:30 PM

I had the pleasure of listening to the final on lequipe radio. 93 min penalty from Mendy to make it PSG 2 Lens 1. Can't tell you if it was dodgy or not as the phone in is full of PSG fans!

BB Bob

29-03-2008, 09:33 PM

Originally posted by kabbott
One out of one for me!
Bordeaux scraped a 2:1 victory with 2 more from Cavenaghi (?) against Nancy who finished the game with 9 men! More later.

Dodgy penalty again, wasn't it? Otherwise my shout would have been right!

BB Bob

30-03-2008, 09:08 AM

.http://www.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/290308_pauleta_joie_lens.jpg

Coupe de la Ligue Final
Stade de France (Paris)
Saturday, March 29, 2008

PSG 2
Pauleta 19, Mendy (pen) 94

Lens 1
Carriere 51

Line-ups

PSG: Landreau; Ceara, Camara, Sakho, Armand; Chantome (Mendy 68), Bourillon, Clement, Rothen; Diane, Pauleta (Luyindula 66)

Lens: Le Crom; Laurenti, Coulibaly, Hilton, Belhadj; Carriere, Mangane, Kovacevic, Monnet-Paquet (Aruna 68); Remy (Monterrubio 12), Maoulida (Demont 84)

PSG scored a dramatic last-gasp penalty winner to earn a thrilling 2-1 victory over Lens in a remarkable Coupe de la Ligue final.

Substitute Bernard Mendy scored the historic goal on a fabulous night of action when he rolled the ball home from the spot in the 94th minute after Lens captain Hilton had hauled down substitute striker Peguy Luyindula in the box.

PSG's normal penalty-taker is Jerome Rothen but Mendy took responsibility in the heat of the moment and coolly placed his shot into one of the bottom corners as Lens goalkeeper Ronan Le Crom found himself rooted to the spot.

The winning goal means Paul Le Guen has claimed his first trophy as PSG manager, 14 months after taking over in the capital. Now PSG will turn their attentions to staying in Ligue 1 – and with the club still in the French Cup quarter-finals, it could yet end up being a memorable season for the Parisian giants.

Veteran brilliance

In front of 80,000 fans at a noisy and colourful Stade de France, Le Guen's side went ahead in the first-half thanks to a brilliant finish from Pauleta. The veteran Portuguese striker deftly lobbed the ball over Le Crom in the 19th minute and watched the ball hit the post before crossing the line. It was the 34-year-old's sixth goal in the competition and confirmed his status as the Coupe de la Ligue's leading scorer this season.

But Lens fought back brilliantly after the break and will feel desperately unlucky to have lost. They more than matched their opponents over the 90 minutes and equalised on 53 minutes through a cool Eric Carriere finish after the midfielder got ahead of the strikers and collected a neat pass from Toifilou Maoulida following a good burst forward by Kevin Monnet-Paquet. Then substitute Olivier Monterrubio provided one of the greatest moments of the night and nearly won the game for Jean-Pierre Papin's side when he unleashed a fantastic 25-yard volley but watched the shot come back off the inside of the post as PSG goalkeeper Mickael Landreau was left helpless.

The Sang et Or were not totally outplayed in the first-half, either. Monnet Paquet's pace down the left was a constant threat for Lens and he set up Maoulida for a couple of chances that the marksman missed. The former Marseille and Auxerre striker pulled his first opportunity wide of Landreau's far post but then saw his second effort, a brilliant curling shot, superbly tipped away by the PSG goalkeeper, who was outstanding all night. At the other end during the opening half Amara Diane wasted a couple of chances for PSG, shooting straight at Le Crom when through on goal and then heading wide following an excellent Rothen cross.

Dramatic winner

Having gone in a goal down Lens showed renewed belief after the restart, although Carriere missed a good chance to score when he headed straight at Landreau before redeeming himself with the equaliser. After Monterrubio's wonder strike hit the woodwork the pace dropped in the final 15 minutes, but Lens had a chance to win the game in injury time when substitute Yohan Demont broke into the box only for Landreau yet again to rescue PSG, tipping the midfielder's volley over the bar.

Just as extra-time looked inevitable, PSG scored the winner in the dying seconds of normal time. Diane, full of running all night, released Luyindula and he burst into the box only for Hilton to haul the striker down. Mendy made no mistake from the spot to earn PSG a place in the history books – they are the only club to win the Coupe de la Ligue three times – as well as a place in Europe next season, and send PSG's fans into delirious celebrationshttp://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/0708_CDL_FINALE_COUPE.jpg

I suppose I should applaud Pauleta. He never made it internationally, but he has been a phenomenal p[layer in le Championnat and will be missed when he retires at the end of the season.

BB Bob

30-03-2008, 09:14 AM

Ligue 1, Matchday 31

Bordeaux 2
Cavenaghi 53, 82 (pen)

Nancy 1
Zerka 28

Match Stats

Fernando Cavenaghi struck twice to earn Bordeaux a priceless 2-1 win over Nancy as the hosts came from behind to triumph over nine-man visitors.

This was a vital game for both clubs in the battle for second place as Bordeaux went into the match just three points ahead of their rivals and knowing a win for Nancy would see both teams tied on 55pts at the end of the game.

For a while it looked as though Pablo Correa’s visitors were going to secure a fantastic triumph but Cavenaghi, in outstanding form all year, hit twice after the break to earn the hosts the points.

His first came on 53 minutes when Alou Diarra nodded on a Wendel corner and Cavenaghi scored with a diving header at the far post. His winner came from the penalty spot eight minutes from time after Chris Malonga brought down Bordeaux substitute Johan Micoud in the area. Cavenaghi made no mistake from the spot, sending Nancy goalkeeper Gennaro Bracigliano the wrong way.

Things got worse for Nancy a minute later when midfielder Jonathan Brison was sent off for a second bookable offence. And yet the visitors had started the better of the two sides, taking the lead through Moncef Zerka on 28 minutes and playing well in the first-half. It was a different story after the restart, however, as Bordeaux midfielder Fernando headed against a post and Nancy defender Frederic Biancalani cleared a David Bellion effort off the line in the opening 10 minutes of the second-half. It was no surprise, therefore, that Bordeaux ultimately got the upper hand.

Nancy finished the game with nine men when Biancalani got his marching orders for a foul on Franck Jurietti two minutes from time. That sealed a disappointing day for Correa’s men as Bordeaux may well have taken an unassailable lead in the battle for second place.

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/BDX_choc.jpg

Here we have a Bordeaux player recreating the infamous Father Ted episode, "Kicking Bishop Brennan Up The Arse" (the funniest of all Father Ted's IMHO)

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/BDX_CVENAGHI.jpg

But he's the man to stop at the moment....

Latvian Eagle

30-03-2008, 12:30 PM

I remember when Fernando Cavenaghi was the next big thing about 3 or 4 years ago. He went off to Spartak Moscow and kind of disappeared into Obscurity for a bit! Glad to hear he's doing ok again. :p

kabbott

30-03-2008, 04:27 PM

Disgraceful performance by the ref in the Bordeaux v Nancy match. Haven't seen any pictures yet. The French refs are getting terrible press at the moment. I don't think they're any worse here than elsewhere. They're certainly not being helped by cheating and dishonest players. But it does make you wonder sometimes. I've just watched the Valenciennes v Lyon match, which Lyon won by the way 1:2. In the first 5 minutes Lyon scored a pefectly valid goal through a Fred header which the ref disallowed, God knows what for. And then in the closing stages of the game Fred 'mistimed' a tackle on a Valenciennes player and got his shin à la Eduardo. The ref was about a couple of feet from the action and didn't do anything! He couldn't possibly not have seen what happened. In the Bordeaux game, it was Micoud who pulled a Nancy player down, fell down himself, claimed a penalty and got it. Bordeaux went on to win the game, and even if Micoud is suspended for bringing the game into disrepute or whatever he'll get his win bonus and a big pat on the back from coach and president for his 'professionalism'!
Not to mention PSG's very debatable last-minute penalty. The PSG player felt someone nearby in the penalty area and went down like a ton of bricks.But all the talk is not about the PSG victory but more about their disgraceful fans who had a large anti-Lens banner out accusing them of being pedophiles, incestuous etc The Ligue 2 is too good for that club. You'e got to feel sorry for the players, the administrators however are not doing enough. Lens have appealed and want the final replayed. That'll never happen, but a few matches behind closed doors plus a hefty fine might go some way towards eradicating the type of 'supporter' that follows PSG.

kabbott

30-03-2008, 04:34 PM

This afternoon's results:

Bordeaux 2:1 Nancy
Le Mans 1:1 Caen
Lille 0:2 Auxerre
Metz 0:2 Toulouse
Sochaux 1:0 Nice
Valenciennes 1:2 Lyon

Lorient v Marseille home win
Monaco v Rennes draw

3 out of 6 for me so far.

kabbott

30-03-2008, 04:36 PM

And 1 out of 6 for you BB Bob.

BB Bob

30-03-2008, 07:58 PM

Good to see I'm keeping my average up! I knew that the Nice score was going to have a nil in it, too! You keep the title of Monsieur Lotto Sportif for another week, I think.

Good points for the boys down the bottom end, especially Auxerre and M. Baup at Toulouse. It all puts a lot of pressure on PSG for the home game against Strasbourg on Wednesday night!

BB Bob

30-03-2008, 08:26 PM

It's a tough job but...

LA QUESTION DU JOUR
Les arbitres français sont-ils les plus mauvais d'Europe ?
Oui 71%
Non 26%
Nsp 3%

So speaks the jury!

BB Bob

31-03-2008, 07:08 AM

Ligue 1, Matchday 31

Lorient 1
Saifi (pen) 44

Marseille
Akale 52, Niang 80

Match Stats

Marseille launched a fantastic second-half comeback to claim a 2-1 victory at Lorient that could prove vital in their battle to claim third place in Ligue 1.

Kanga Akale and Mamadou Niang scored the goals as Eric Gerets' side fought back from a patchy performance during the first-half, in which they deservedly fell behind to a Rafik Saifi penalty.

The match was played in a downpour in Brittany, making conditions difficult but both sides, but Lorient settled the quicker and it was no surprise when they took the lead shortly before half-time after a concerted period of pressure.

Marseille's captain and stand-in centre-half Lorik Cana was the culprit, hauling down Ulrich Le Pen, one of Lorient's most impressive players, in the box. Saifi stepped up to convert his 11th goal of the season. Marseille could have had few complaints since they'd relied on goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to keep the game level before that as he pulled off an exceptional diving save to keep out a Saifi header just before the half-hour mark.

But Marseille went on the attack in the second-half as Djibril Cisse came on for midfielder Charles Kabore at the interval, and the visitors' extra firepower paid off as they forced Lorient back towards their own goal from the outset. Their equaliser came seven minutes after the restart when Modeste Mbami launched a pass for Akale and the striker held off Lorient defenders before finishing coolly under Fabien Audard.

Niang hit the bar two minutes later but was not to be denied later, heading the winner 11 minutes from time. The Senegal striker rose highest to power home Laurent Bonnart's cross and give his side a precious victory. It was Niang's 13th goal of the season, putting him clear in second place in the scorers' chart behind Lyon's 17-goal Karim Benzema.

The win means Marseille lie only three points behind third-place Nancy, who lost 2-1 at Bordeaux yesterday.

Neither of us got that one!

BB Bob

31-03-2008, 07:12 AM

Ligue 1 Orange P W D L GD Pts
1 Lyon 31 21 4 6 +35 67
2 Bordeaux 31 17 7 7 +20 58
3 Nancy 31 13 13 5 +13 52
4 Marseille 31 13 10 8 +11 49
5 Le Mans 31 12 8 11 -3 44
6 Nice 31 10 13 8 +3 43
7 Lille 31 9 15 7 +8 42
8 Lorient 31 10 12 9 -4 42
9 Valenciennes 31 11 8 12 +6 41
10 Rennes 30 11 8 11 -2 41
11 Saint Etienne 30 11 7 12 +2 40
12 Caen 31 10 10 11 -9 40
13 Auxerre 31 11 7 13 -10 40
14 Sochaux 31 9 11 11 -6 38
15 Monaco 30 10 7 13 -7 37
16 Strasbourg 30 9 8 13 -5 35
17 Lens 30 8 10 12 -5 34
18 Toulouse 31 7 13 11 -6 34
19 Paris SG 30 7 11 12 -7 32
20 Metz 31 4 6 21 -34 17

Monaco v Rennes tonight
PSG v Strasbourg Wednesday

BB Bob

31-03-2008, 07:20 AM

For all you hardcore fans out there, this weeks National results:-

vendredi 28 mars 2008
19h30 Pau (20) 0-0 Vannes OC (1)
20h00 Romorantin (17) 1-1 Tours FC (2)
Martigues (16) 0-0 Sète (3)
Calais (15) 0-3 Laval (4)
Louhans-Cuiseaux (18) 1-0 Nîmes (5)
Cherbourg (5) 1-0 Rodez (10)
Cannes (13) 1-0 Istres (7)
Paris FC (8) 1-1 Villemomble (19)
Entente SSG (9) 1-1 Créteil (11)
Arles (14) 1-0 Beauvais (12)

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Vannes OC 57 30 17 6 7 40 26 14
2 Tours FC 50 30 14 8 8 40 26 14
3 Cherbourg 49 30 14 7 9 35 29 6

4 Laval 49 30 12 13 5 43 21 22
5 Sète 48 30 12 12 6 32 18 14
6 Nîmes 46 30 12 10 8 34 30 4
7 Paris FC 45 30 11 12 7 45 39 6
8 Istres 45 30 12 9 9 31 28 3
9 Entente SSG 43 30 13 4 13 37 39 -2
10 Cannes 39 30 9 12 9 32 36 -4
11 Arles 38 30 8 14 8 24 28 -4
12 Rodez 38 30 11 5 14 30 35 -5
13 Créteil 37 30 8 13 9 31 27 4
14 Beauvais 36 30 9 9 12 33 38 -5
15 Calais 34 30 7 13 10 34 34 0
16 Louhans-Cuiseaux 32 30 8 8 14 35 51 -16

17 Martigues 32 30 7 11 12 29 36 -7
18 Romorantin 31 30 7 10 13 28 38 -10
19 Villemomble 28 30 5 13 12 21 32 -11
20 Pau 26 30 7 5 18 25 48 -23

limited_edition

31-03-2008, 06:11 PM

Originally posted by kabbott
.But all the talk is not about the PSG victory but more about their disgraceful fans who had a large anti-Lens banner out accusing them of being pedophiles, incestuous etc The Ligue 2 is too good for that club. You'e got to feel sorry for the players, the administrators however are not doing enough. Lens have appealed and want the final replayed. That'll never happen, but a few matches behind closed doors plus a hefty fine might go some way towards eradicating the type of 'supporter' that follows PSG. I know it wasn't in the league, but are they likely, like Metz were, to have points docked to seal their relegation fate ?

BB Bob

31-03-2008, 06:46 PM

http://i.eurosport.fr/2008/03/30/428652-2844001-458-238.jpg

This wasn't a little banner. They were talking about it being 25m long. Oh and Sarko was there along with the President of of the league who comes from, er, the North. And lets be honest, refering to people from the north as unemployed incestuous paedophiles is never going to be taken well.

The mayor of Calais (I think) is asking for the match to be replayed, but I can't see that happening. PSG could be made to play games behind closed doors but the way they are playing at home at the moment, that would probably be an advantage. Metz had 1 point taken off, but would that make any difference? It might, as it is very tight at the bottom (Fnar fnar).

In the end, I think that the League needs PSG in L1 for the prestige. Is there any other major league in Europe without a club from the capital in the Premier League?

Personally I think they should chuck the book at them!

BB Bob

01-04-2008, 02:06 PM

Maybe they will take points off PSG...

Now it is PSG facing a painful penalty
The LFP is considering severe action against Paris St Germain following the display of a banner during Saturday's League Cup final which cruelly cast doubt on the morality of people from Northern France - home territory of their opponents at the Stade de France, Lens.
In a strongly-worded communique, LFP President Frédéric Thiriez (pictured above) referred to those who displayed the banner as "a handful of imbeciles filled with hatred."

There were also incidents said to have been started by PSG followers outside the Stade de France before and after the match - which PSG won 2-1 with a controversial penalty in added time. But it is the unfurling of a banner, the words of which we have obscured in our home-page picture, which has caused most concern.

It ridiculed the morality of the people of Northern France and twisted the message of one of the most popular films currently on release in France which follows the story of how accusations - proved in a law court to be completely false - were made about child abuse in one particular village.

The LFP stewards moved swiftly to have the banner removed, and it was only on display for around five minutes - but in that time the damage was done. Studies are being made of CCTV footage to try to discover where the banner started its spread along the length of the goal-line in the middle tier of the PSG-end tribune.

LFP President Thiriez said: "The League takes an extremely serious view of this incitement to hatred and violence.

"What was to be a great festival of football, fraternity and union against racism and all discriminations, was partly spoiled by a handful of imbeciles filled with hatred - and this in spite of the security measures taken and the speed of intervention immediately afterwards by our stewards.

"It is not the first time. The firmness of the reaction of the League will match the height of the attack carried out on the image of our football. Firstly on a disciplinary level. Our commission for discipline has the official report of the match delegate, which I have seen - and I believe our actions will underline for everyone how seriously we regard this matter.

"On the legal level, the League will do all it can to see that the individuals involved are brought to justice. Both clubs will join this complaint. I hope that with the video surveillance on the one hand and personal ticketting on the other, that the police force will be able to identify the authors, to apprehend them and to deliver them to justice.

"I will ask the authorities to show the same firmness as the League by applying with greatest severity the laws of the Republic.

"I want to address finally and especially the public of Lens and to all our friends of the Nord-Pas-de-Calais area. You have a large heart - me too. I ask you, friends, not to confuse understandable frustration related to the defeat with the legitimate anger which this lamentable banner caused."

In his post-match media conference, Lens coach Jean-Pierre Papin, one of France's favourite footballing sons, said he was deeply shocked by the wording of the banner, and so were hjs players and their fans.

Now PSG wait anxiously to discover their fate which seems likely to involve not only a serious financial penalty, but of much more consequence, the possible loss of points. They are a in a perilous position, second-bottom in the league, and a points-penalty could tip them over the brink into Ligue 2.

Worryingly for them the league has already taken points off Metz in Ligue 1 and Bastia in Ligue 2 this season for matters of a serious, but less prominent nature. To have defaced the League's showpiece occasion so dramatically has not been taken well by the LFP.

BB Bob

01-04-2008, 02:07 PM

Meanwhile, just 3 points off the relegation zone, Monaco stumble again...

Ligue 1, Matchday 31
Monday, March 31, 2008
Stade Louis II

Monaco 1
Sambou 37

Rennes 2
Hansson 19, Pagis 90 (+2)

>> Match Stats

Rennes moved into fifth on Monday night with a 2-1 victory over Monaco to plunge the principality side deep into trouble near the bottom half of the table.

Former Marseille man Mickaël Pagis thumped home a winner two minutes into second-half injury-time to move his team within the European places.

By contrast, the defeat was Monaco's fourth on the spin with Ricardo's men having failed to register a victory in the league since January. That run of form has left them a meagre three points off the bottom of the table. Crucial games against Strasbourg, Toulouse and Lens follow in a month which will shape Monaco's season.

To be fair, the home side looked set for a draw after Senegal's Massamba Lô Sambou had pegged back the visitors who had gone in front via a first goal of the season for the Swede Petter Hansson.

The Scandinavian headed home at the back post after 19 minutes to put the visitors into the lead. The goal prompted a Monaco surge and just under 20 minutes later, Sambou rose highest at a free-kick and gave Luizi no chance with a header.

The second period saw both sides have chances in front of goal with Cufré and Sambou going the closest for Monaco. Rennes though struck at the death to leave the hosts rueing their earlier misses and deny them a valuable point. For Rennes, the only way is up. Monaco however, must halt their disastrous slide towards the bottom.

BB Bob

02-04-2008, 01:49 PM

Late result from monday's top of the table clash in L2 leaves Nantes practically over the line.

-› Monday, March 31, 2008
20:30 Troyes 0 - 2 Nantes

kabbott

02-04-2008, 03:30 PM

Originally posted by limited_edition
I know it wasn't in the league, but are they likely, like Metz were, to have points docked to seal their relegation fate ?

I doubt it. This didn't happen in Le Championnat, although irony of ironies it's the French League Cup, so organised by the French League, who must take some of the blame as far as security arrangements go. This whole affair is not being taken lightly, the police are using CCTV and looking for traces of DNA on the banners. But it's the same old story, everyone knows who it is, but nothing will ever come of it, ever Sarkozy's hard-line speeches probably won't come to anything. PSG have been involved in this type of sh*t for years and nothing's ever happened. Hopefully this will be the straw that breaks the camel's back. The worst I can see is PSG being banned from La Coupe de la Ligue next season and getting a poxy fine. I hope I'm wrong.

kabbott

02-04-2008, 03:38 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Late result from monday's top of the table clash in L2 leaves Nantes practically over the line.

-› Monday, March 31, 2008
20:30 Troyes 0 - 2 Nantes

Troyes are making a pig's dinner of their promotion drive. This is their third defeat in a row, and opens the door to Grenoble to make a late promotion dash. Unlike most French clubs and more like English ones, Grenoble got a big cash-injection from a Japanese company, which has enabled them to build a new state-of-the-art stadium. In exchange, they had to buy one or two Japanese players. If they did get promotion , no doubt that there would be more cash thrown in. They'd also need to do something to get the fans coming through the turnstiles in big numbers too. I think promotion is more likely next season ...

kabbott

02-04-2008, 03:48 PM

And tonight, you might be asking, Championnat ou Ligue des Champions?
For the pretty football O.K. but maybe in the first legs the teams will cancel each other out, in which case pourquoi pas PSG contre FC Strasbourg? Number 1 for the atmosphere in the crowd, any new anti-Strasbourg banners? pitch invasions? Number 2 quite simply witnessing another astonishingly poor PSG display and another step towards a mouth-watering Ligue 2 clash next season against Lens' neighbours and Franck Ribéry's first club Boulogne-sur-Mer?

GodstoneEagle

02-04-2008, 03:55 PM

hope PSG don't go down. :love: le PSG

kabbott

02-04-2008, 04:28 PM

Originally posted by GodstoneEagle
hope PSG don't go down. :love: le PSG

I must admit I used to like them 15-20 years ago when they had George Weah, David Ginola, Valdo, Rai, Le Guen, Lama, Fournier, Ricardo etc. They played some pretty football in those days including a European Cup or UEFA Cup return leg 1/4 final (I think) against Real Madrid, which they won in the final minute with a header from Kombouaré (the current Valenciennes coach). that was some match. Since those days the club's had some dodgy presidents who have employed some dodgy coaches and they've wasted millions. There's a lot of internal strife between board members who don't see eye to eye on most things (a lot like Marseille in that respect). The most astonishing thing is that there's only one real club in the French capital, PSG, and they're incapable of attracting the best young players of the region. Their academy is naff, with no facilities. A season in the lower echelon could even be a blessing in disguise for them. Who knows?

kabbott

02-04-2008, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by GodstoneEagle
hope PSG don't go down. :love: le PSG

One of PSG's finest moments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ASgGd3bGiY

kabbott

02-04-2008, 04:45 PM

Oh and for those who haven't seen Juni ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Xa5d81_ra0

BB Bob

02-04-2008, 04:54 PM

I'll have to keep half an ear on the radio tonight! Certainly, if PSG had to pick a game tonight, home to Strasbourg would probably be it. But who knows? Le Guen was talking his team up in l'equipe, but morale must be shocking. And with that home crowd getting edgy, if strasbourg can keep it tight anything could happen, especially with Landreau in the form he is in!

Looks like Lloris could.be a man in demand in the summer. Coupet is talking of an american adventure, but also said he didn't want to be remembered as the thirty something year old GK who was responsible for lyon not winning the title. Of course he is about to start talks over extending his contract so could be trying to put some pressure on Aulas, but still. With Balmont and Kone saying they would be interested in playing at a different club/level/country and Ederson already off, it could be a tough season in Nice next year.

kabbott

02-04-2008, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
I'll have to keep half an ear on the radio tonight! Certainly, if PSG had to pick a game tonight, home to Strasbourg would probably be it. But who knows? Le Guen was talking his team up in l'equipe, but morale must be shocking. And with that home crowd getting edgy, if strasbourg can keep it tight anything could happen, especially with Landreau in the form he is in!

Looks like Lloris could.be a man in demand in the summer. Coupet is talking of an american adventure, but also said he didn't want to be remembered as the thirty something year old GK who was responsible for lyon not winning the title. Of course he is about to start talks over extending his contract so could be trying to put some pressure on Aulas, but still. With Balmont and Kone saying they would be interested in playing at a different club/level/country and Ederson already off, it could be a tough season in Nice next year.

You beat me to it, BB Bob. I did't have time to post that one. I reckon it's just a bit of pressure on Aulas. Of course what you didn't mention was that if Coupet is out, Lloris could well be in.

kabbott

02-04-2008, 09:52 PM

A good 1:0 victory helps PSG out of the relegation zone with a goal from sub Diané. Good support from the crowd too!

BB Bob

03-04-2008, 07:42 AM

Ligue 1 Orange, Matchday 31

PSG 1
Diane 73

Strasbourg 0

>> Match Stats

More than 33,000 packed into the Parc des Princes to salute the homecoming of the League Cup trophy after Saturday's 2-1 triumph over Lens at the Stade de France - but after the celebrations it was a nervous evening.

Having slipped into the bottom three, and facing a team equally determined to get out of trouble, PSG knew there was little scope for error, and the longer the game went without a goal, the more the tension grew.

Iconic skipper Pauleta, one of the heroes against Lens, thought he had broken the ice when he netted after 16 minutes, but the goal was struck off for offside.

PSG enjoyed most of the play, and both Pauleta and Zoumana Camara had goalbound efforts cleared off the line before half-time. Key playmaker Jerome Rothen, lively as ever down the left, set up both of those chances and also provided the set-up from which Clement Chantome sent his header a fraction wide just before the break.

It was not all one-way traffic however and at the other end Michael Landreau had to be at his best to keep out Strasbourg's best efforts from Pascal Johansen and Kevin Gameiro.

Ater the break the tension began getting to the players, and a late challenge by Pauleta on Strasbourg keeper Stephane Cassard proved a flashpoint, with both sides joining in a "handbags" push and shove episode.

With only 55 minutes gone, PSG coach Paul Le Guen tried a tactical change, bringing on Bernard Mendy for Chantome, and Diané for Peguy Luyindula.

It was to prove a master stroke. With 73 minutes gone, Mendy created space for a run down the right and cut back a perfect lay-off for Diané who swept it in from ten yards.

Even then PSG nearly blew two points, Landreau having to save desperately with his feet from Eric Mouloungui in the closing moments.

However, Le Guen's men hung on for a win which at least lifts them out of the bottom three and level on points with Strasbourg.

BB Bob

03-04-2008, 09:16 PM

I have just watched the highlights of the bordeaux - nancy game and have to say it was the most appalling refereed game I have seen for ages. 9 yellows 2 reds and a penalty that was a shocking decision. The survey in lequipe (70% or so saying france has the worst refs) was right!

kabbott

03-04-2008, 10:49 PM

Joke! To give Micoud a 'break' from all the media pressure, Bordeaux will not be playing him next weekend. he's getting a 4-day break! Why don't they say they're banning him themselves, it would go down much better with everyone. And he might even end up with a lighter sanction. I don't get it.

BB Bob

04-04-2008, 05:49 PM

Ligue 1, Matchday 32
NANCY v PSG (Stade Marcel-Picot)
Sunday, April 6, 2008 (5pm kick-off UK time)

>> Pre-Match Statistics

>> Previous Meetings

Will the PSG revival continue here? They travel to face Nancy at Stade Marcel-Picot on the back of two hugely important wins that have boosted confidence and could yet see the club enjoy a memorable season.

First up was their dramatic late 2-1 victory over Lens in the Coupe de la Ligue final at Stade de France last Saturday night when substitute defender Bernard Mendy scored the winning goal from the penalty spot deep into injury-time. That earned Paul Le Guen his first trophy since taking over in the capital and brought the club brief respite from the travails of their relegation battle.

Les Parisiens followed up with a 1-0 win over Strasbourg in Ligue 1 on Wednesday night, Amara Diane netting the 73rd-minute winner. The Ivorian's strike lifted PSG out of the relegation zone and on to 35pts, one point above 18th-placed Lens. Having moved out of the bottom three PSG's aim will be to stay there for the remainder of the season.

But winning on Nancy's ground is an arduous task – indeed, it has proved beyond all visitors this season. Pablo Correa's hosts are defending the last unbeaten home record in Ligue 1, having won 11 and drawn four of their home fixtures so far.

That impressive run of results is why the Lorraine outfit lie in third place and stand a decent chance of claiming a Champions League place, although their hopes suffered a blow when they lost 2-1 to second-placed Bordeaux in Gironde last Saturday afternoon.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Nancy, who dominated the first-half and took the lead through a Moncef Zerka header but struggled after half-time and lost out when Bordeaux's hitman Fernando Cavenaghi struck twice after the break to earn the hosts the points.

Fourth-placed Marseille have closed the gap separating them and Nancy to three points, which will be too close for comfort for Correa. He'll focus all his efforts on his side winning three points at their fortress – but a resurgent PSG will take some stopping.

Catch the highlights of this match and all the Matchday 32 clashes in the UK on SETANTA SPORTS at 22.30UK time on Monday. For listings in other parts of the world CLICK HERE then click on your continent and follow the local link

BB Bob

04-04-2008, 05:50 PM

Ligue 1, Matchday 32
RENNES v BORDEAUX (Stade de la Route de Lorient)
Saturday, April 5, 2008 (4.10pm kick-off UK time)

>> Pre-Match Statistics

>> Previous Meetings

"Never two without three," is a saying in French – but does that mean Bordeaux are about to lose on the road for the third successive time as they face a vastly improved Rennes side at Stade de la Route de Lorient?

Les Girondins sit second in the table and look increasingly likely to claim runners-up spot behind Lyon but their recent away form has left a lot to be desired and will give the hosts confidence here. Bordeaux were defeated 4-2 away to champions Lyon in a match that was billed a title decider at Stade de Gerland last month, and then a fortnight ago crashed on their travels again, deservedly beaten by an inspired Valenciennes side in a 3-1 setback.

Fortunately for Laurent Blanc's side, they managed to keep their campaign for runners-up spot on course with a 2-1 win over closest rivals Nancy last weekend, although required a late controversial winner to grab the points.

No prizes for guessing who netted the winner – that man Fernando Cavenaghi, who scored both goals in the game to take his tally for the season to 12 in 18 games, which gives him an even better goals-per-game ratio than Lyon and Ligue 1's leading scorer Karim Benzema 17 in 30).

It's difficult to overstate what an impact Cavenaghi has had for Bordeaux this season. After struggling to earn a first-team place during the first-half of the campaign, he took advantage of David Bellion's downturn in form and Marouane Chamakh's involvement in the Africa Cup of Nations to win a place in January – and hasn't looked back since. He is now, alongside the injured Benzema, the most feared marksman in France and won his first Argentina cap in their 2-0 friendly win over Egypt last month.

But while the man now nicknamed 'Cavegol' will occupy Rennes central defenders Peter Hansson and John Mensah for much of the game, Guy Lacombe's hosts can call upon a quartet of their very own stars to threaten the visitors' backline.

The four front men in Rennes' 4-2-3-1 formation have performed superbly in recent weeks, earning the Brittany outfit three wins and two draws from their last five outings. Playmaker Jerome Leroy occupies the right flank, Olivier Thomert operates down the left and Mickael Pagis is the deep-lying striker supporting centre-forward Jimmy Briand.

It was Pagis that netted the 93rd-minute winner to earn les Rennais a vital 2-1 win over Monaco last Monday night to end their relegation fears. Now Rennes, who have climbed to fifth, can focus on looking up – and that starts with this clash against Bordeaux.

Les Girondins are likely to leave out Johan Micoud, the man who won the controversial late penalty which sealed the 2-1 win against Nancy. On DVD evidence, Micoud has been told to appear before an LFP Disciplinary Commission next Thursday, and manager Laurent Blanc believes the storm around the player means he may not be in the right frame of mind to appear at Rennes.

BB Bob

04-04-2008, 05:50 PM

Ligue 1, Matchday 32
MARSEILLE v LYON (Stade Velodrome)
Sunday, April 6, 2008 (7.55pm kick-off UK time)

>> Pre-Match Statistics

>> Previous Matches

Everywhere you look when Marseille play Lyon on Sunday night, you will see France internationals. In goal, at the back, in midfield and scoring goals up front – both sides are stocked with men fighting for a place in Raymond Domenech's summer squad of 23.

At one end, Gregory Coupet will be keeping out Marseille's strikers; at the other Steve Mandanda, regarded as (along with Nice's Hugo Lloris) the outstanding young French goalkeeper of his era, will be aiming to prove he's good enough to be one of Coupet's understudies at Euro 2008. At right-back Francois Clerc will raid forward for the visitors while Sebastien Squillaci – or international rival Jean-Alain Boumsong – will partner Cris at the back in les Lyonnais' line-up.

The midfield battle is full of French promise. Lyon's Jeremy Toulalan is a regular for les Bleus and will patrol in front of his defence with customary excellence; but he faces a tough job to stop Samir Nasri and Mathieu Valbuena, Marseille's twin playmakers, who are on the fringes of the French set-up. France's most lethal striker, Karim Benzema, is injured at the moment, but Marseille's Djibril Cisse – whe has 11 goals in Ligue 1 at the moment – will be looking to score points with Domenech by scoring against the champions-elect, while Sidney Govou and Hatem Ben Arfa will hope to cement their places in the French boss' plans by starring for Lyon.

This is a crucial match for both sides. Marseille are chasing third place and closed the gap on Nancy to three points with a 2-1 win over Lorient last weekend. Trailing 1-0 at half-time, the introduction of Cisse at half-time inspired l'OM's comeback as Kanga Akale and Mamadou Niang scored the goals to earn Eric Gerets' side a vital 2-1 win. With seven games to go, Marseille still have time to overhaul les Nanceens and claim the final Champions League spot.

Lyon are nine points clear at the top but want to wrap up the title as quickly as possible. They are still in the French Cup so this could be a historic season as they are aiming for the first league and cup double in their history. They are also seeking revenge after suffering an unexpected 2-1 loss when the sides met for the first time thie season. Juninho opened the scoring for Lyon on November 11 but Niang hit back with a first-half double, one from the penalty spot, and Marseille clung on for victory.

So expect Lyon to be hugely motivated here – and see some some excellent performances from the French contingent on both sides. Tune in to catch the action.

In the UK and ireland catch the match LIVE on SETANTA SPORTS. For other regions of the world CLICK HERE then click on your continent and follow the appropriate links.

BB Bob

04-04-2008, 05:54 PM

Speedy loto this week, I'm afraid

Matchday 32 - Saturday, April 05, 2008
17:10 Rennes Bordeaux DRAW
20:00 Auxerre Sochaux DRAW
20:00 Caen Valenciennes HOME WIN
20:00 Lens Metz HOME WIN
20:00 Nice Lille DRAW
20:00 Saint Etienne Le Mans HOME WIN
20:00 Strasbourg Monaco DRAW
20:00 Toulouse Lorient HOME WIN
Matchday 32 - Sunday, April 06, 2008
18:00 Nancy Paris SG HOME WIN
20:55 Marseille Lyon HOME WIN (Sorry kabbot!)

kabbott

04-04-2008, 07:21 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BB Bob
[B]Speedy loto this week, I'm afraid

Matchday 32 - Saturday, April 05, 2008
17:10 Rennes Bordeaux DRAW
20:00 Auxerre Sochaux DRAW
20:00 Caen Valenciennes HOME WIN
20:00 Lens Metz HOME WIN
20:00 Nice Lille DRAW
20:00 Saint Etienne Le Mans HOME WIN
20:00 Strasbourg Monaco DRAW
20:00 Toulouse Lorient HOME WIN
Matchday 32 - Sunday, April 06, 2008
18:00 Nancy Paris SG HOME WIN
20:55 Marseille Lyon HOME WIN (Sorry kabbot!)

Don't be sorry BB Bob, if your predictions are up to your normal success rate, it probably means Lyon will win. Unfortunately I won't be in to watch le big match du dimanche soir, since I'll actually be back in Blighty for a short week on business. Just home I can get in front of a T.V. screen on Monday evening for le big match du championnat anglais!
Anyway here are mine:

Matchday 32 - Saturday, April 05, 2008
17:10 Rennes v Bordeaux HOME WIN
20:00 Auxerre v Sochaux DRAW
20:00 Caen v Valenciennes HOME WIN
20:00 Lens v Metz HOME WIN
20:00 Nice v Lille HOME WIN
20:00 Saint Etienne v Le Mans AWAY WIN
20:00 Strasbourg v Monaco AWAY WIN
20:00 Toulouse Lorient DRAW
Matchday 32 - Sunday, April 06, 2008
18:00 Nancy Paris SG AWAY WIN
20:55 Marseille Lyon AWAY WIN (désolé BB Bob!)

Bon match!

BB Bob

04-04-2008, 09:06 PM

Originally posted by kabbott
Don't be sorry BB Bob, if your predictions are up to your normal success rate, it probably means Lyon will win. [/B]

Ooh you bitch! But you're probably right though! Have a good week back in the UK (but I'll bet you'll miss Lyon!) You can find out how the other half live in terms of the football coverage.

kabbott

04-04-2008, 10:18 PM

Madame will be recording Canal+ on Sunday evening I hope. Sky Monday evening may not be that easy, but I can't be in England and miss it, can I? A lot of diplomacy will be needed here.

kabbott

05-04-2008, 08:23 PM

So how have done this time?

Matchday 32 - Saturday, April 05, 2008
17:10 Rennes 0:2 Bordeaux
20:00 Auxerre 0:1 Sochaux
20:00 Caen 1:0 Valenciennes
20:00 Lens 1:1 Metz
20:00 Nice 0:0 Lille
20:00 Saint Etienne 4:1 Le Mans
20:00 Strasbourg 0:2 Monaco
20:00 Toulouse 0:0 Lorient

For both of us that's 3 out of 8.

Peut faire mieux as they say. There's still the most important one to come tomorrow night. Allez l'OL!!!!!!
Bonne nuit.

BB Bob

05-04-2008, 10:35 PM

Which leaves the table tonight looking like this...

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Lyon 67 31 21 4 6 64 29 35
2 Bordeaux 61 32 18 7 7 56 34 22

3 Nancy 52 31 13 13 5 35 22 13

4 Marseille 49 31 13 10 8 44 33 11

5 Nice 44 32 10 14 8 27 24 3
6 Rennes 44 32 12 8 12 35 38 -3
7 Le Mans 44 32 12 8 12 36 42 -6
8 Lille 43 32 9 16 7 34 26 8
9 Saint-Etienne 43 31 12 7 12 37 32 5
10 Lorient 43 32 10 13 9 27 31 -4
11 Caen 43 32 11 10 11 35 43 -8
12 Valenciennes 41 32 11 8 13 37 32 5
13 Sochaux 41 32 10 11 11 29 34 -5
14 Monaco 40 32 11 7 14 33 39 -6
15 Auxerre 40 32 11 7 14 29 40 -11
16 Lens 35 31 8 11 12 35 40 -5
17 Toulouse 35 32 7 14 11 28 34 -6

18 Paris-SG 35 31 8 11 12 28 34 -6
19 Strasbourg 35 32 9 8 15 29 37 -8
20 Metz 18 32 4 7 21 22 56 -34

Pénalités :
Metz : -1 point

Toulouse and Lens really missed opportunities ce soir. Nice have scored a nul again. But Ricardo must be heaving a sigh of relief in the pincipality after Monaco pick up 3 for the first time in a long time. Nancy v PSG as an entrée for the OM v OL game (is that the real JO?) takes on a massive significance. Lose and PSG are in the relegation spots for the week and Nancy - robbed (and no that's not too strong a word) at Bordeaux last weekend - are in the drivers seat for the Champions League spot. OM simply can't afford to slip up against Lyon. But Lyon are looking quietly deadly at the moment and look back to their best...

Yeah, yeah I know. Cue a 3-0 result to one of them. I should stick to buying stocks and shares....

BB Bob

05-04-2008, 10:41 PM

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/livo_62.jpg
"Look its quite chuffing simple. We score over that way...."

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/livo_63.jpg

Are you Palace in disguise? Another good result for Caen ( so I guess you aren't Palace in disguise then!)

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/livo_53.jpg

Let's face it, if Toulouse get relegated, we are going to miss colourful encounters like this....and Johan Elmander of course....and Elie Baup's baseball cap...

GodstoneEagle

06-04-2008, 03:20 AM

anfd gignac :grrr:

BB Bob

06-04-2008, 09:58 AM

Ligue 1, Matchday 32
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Lens 1
Monterrubio 34 (pen)

Metz 1
Pjanic 90

Match Stats

A last-minute equaliser from Metz prevented Lens from picking up a valuable victory at the Stade Bollaert.

One week after their last-minute defeat to PSG in the League Cup final Lens suffered another heart-breaking 90th minute moment when Luxembourg striker Miralem Pjanic capped a fine Metz half with a deserved goal.

The visitors started the game knowing that if other results did not go their way Ligue 2 would await next season.

Lens, meanwhile, after seven consecutive league games without victory, were aware that a defeat against Metz would endanger their Ligue 1 hopes.

Despite the absence of Loïc Remy (ankle injury) Lens made a strong start to the game and their pressure told with the opening goal – an Olivier Monterrubio penalty following a lunge by 'keeper Christophe Marichez on Aruna Dindane.

It was a goal the hosts deserved as they had dominated the opening period with Dindane going close and Maoulida forcing a good save from Marichez.

With Metz unable to threaten Demont went close to adding a second just two minutes prior to the break but the visitors managed to hang on.

A flurry of snow greeted the players for the second-half and the weather seemed to affect the home side as Metz belatedly stepped up a gear. Controlling the ball with great composure they began to test Lens and Vincent Bessat missed a great chance on 67 minutes to equalise.

A combination of the weather and nerves meant that the hosts fell to pieces. With eight minutes to go Pjanic forced Vedran Runje into a terrific save before his last-minute intervention meant a sharing of the points.

Saint-Etienne 4
Dernis 44, 65, Gomis 60, Feindouno 87

Le Mans 1
Le Tallec 33

Match Stats

Saint-Etienne moved into ninth in Ligue 1 with a Geoffrey Dernis inspired four goal rout of Le Mans at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard.

Les Verts's European hopes burn brightly after this comeback triumph with the win putting them one point shy of fifth. For Le Mans, defeat means a sixth consecutive league game without victory.

Les Manceaux were struck a blow just minutes before the match started with the withdrawal of influential defender Marko Basa. The Brazilian Geder took the Montenegren's place and after Saint-Etienne had threatened briefly through Pascal Feindouno and then Bafetimbi Gomis the Le Mans defence settled.

Half an hour in and it was the turn of the home back four to act as strangers as former Liverpool man Anthony Le Tallec reacted the quickest to finish off a Stéphane Sessegnon shot.

The lead though lasted a mere nine minutes as les Verts came storming back with Geoffrey Dernis picking up a Gomis pass and driving a shot past Pelé.

Obviously given a stern talking to at half-time Saint-Etienne emerged from their dressing room a changed team. Within 20 minutes they were 3-1 up thanks to Gmis – the young striker finishing off a fine Dernis pass who himself added the third, a simple finish on 65 minutes.

Le Mans tried in vain to claw their way back in to the game with some optimistic attacking play and Saint-Etienne took advantage of the space with a seventh goal of the season for Feindouno three minutes from time.

Strasbourg 0

Monaco 2
Néné 65, Fabio Santos 83

Match Stats

Monaco earned a valuable three points with a 2-0 win away at Strasbourg. Two second-half goals proved the difference and left the hosts in real danger near the foot of the table.

With Strasbourg fresh from four consecutive league defeats and Monaco looking to buck a winless nine-match run this meeting between the Alsatian giants and the former UEFA Champions league finalists always looked like being a low-scoring affair. However, with both outfits fighting for their Ligue 1 future the two sides knew that a win would boost their chances of survival.

Predictably though a tepid, tactical first-half followed the kick-off with only two real chances on note – Pokrivac for Monaco and Gameiro for the hosts.

That all changed in the second-half as both sides belatedly introduced some attacking ideas into their play. Prompted by a good early stop from Flavio Roma Monaco went looking for that all-important first goal. Malaury Martin posted warning of their intentions with a firm effort before Néné broke the deadlock on 67 minutes with a diverted shot.

Seven minutes from time Fabio Santos put the game beyond any doubt with a debut goal for the club. Defeat puts Starsbourg into 19th on 35 points, a position they share, save for goal difference, with Lens, PSG and Toulouse. Monaco meanwhile jump to 14th, five points clear of the relegation zone.

Nice 0

Lille 0

Match Stats

Nice and Lille played out a goalless draw at the Stade du Ray in a game that does nothing to increase either side's chances of claiming a European place for next season.

Nice's outstanding goalkeeper Hugo Lloris ensured the visitors were unable to break the deadlock while striker Bakari Kone was just lacking that little bit of luck required to find the net for the hosts.

The best chance came when Nice's Lyon-bound playmaker Ederson missed a penalty on 21 minutes. Kone won the spot-kick after leaving Lille captain Gregory Tafforeau for dead inside the area only to be upended by centre-half Adel Rami. But Ederson could only thump his shot against the post.

Lloris had to make a magnificent save from a long-range Michel Bastos shot to keep his side level before making a point-blank save to deny Rami on the stroke of half-time. However, the goalkeeper was saved by his woodwork nine minutes after the restart when Jean Makoun fired against the bar following a Lille free-kick. That was the closest either side came to earning three points as the game fizzled out in the final 20 minutes with both sides seeming to settle for a point.

Nice climb to fifth and Lille stay eighth, but the two sides are five and six points respectively behind fourth-place Marseille, who have a game in hand.

Caen 1
Jemaa 19

Valenciennes 0

Match Stats

Caen ended their relegation fears with a 1-0 win over Valenciennes thanks to a first-half goal from Issam Jemaa.

The Tunisia international struck on 19 minutes following a fabulous break by the hosts. Juan Eduardo Eluchans broke into the Valenciennes half and found fellow midfielder Anthony Deroin, who centred for Jemaa. He made no mistake from close range to claim his second goal in three games.

Caen looked certain to double their lead shortly after the half-hour mark when they won a penalty but Cedric Hengbart missed from the spot. Valenciennes centre-half Eric Chelle committed the offence, pulling down Caen midfielder Benjamin Nivet, but visiting goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau performed the heroics by turning away the spot-kick.

Yet his outfield team-mates were unable to build on that moment of brilliance as Caen continued to dominate proceedings and enjoyed the lion's share of the second-half chances. Penneteau made excellent stops from Jemaa and Julien Toudic as Franck Dumas' hosts refused to sit back on their lead, seeking instead to increase their advantage. But one goal was enough in the end, allowing Caen to climb to 11th while Valenciennes fall a place below them.

Auxerre 0

Sochaux 1
Perquis 44

Match Stats

Sochaux's outstanding run of results continued with a 1-0 win at Auxerre that virtually ends their relegation fears but means that Jean Fernandez's hosts still have some work to do to assure their Ligue 1 status for next season.

Defender Damien Perquis scored the winner a minute before half-time to earn Sochaux their fourth straight away win and their seventh victory in 13 games since Francis Gillot took over as manager in December.

Auxerre started brightly, with Kevin Lejeune's corner being tipped on to the bar by Teddy Richert in the 11th minute, but Sochaux soon got on top and had two excellent chances to score before taking the lead. The first was a Fabrice Pancrate header that Auxerre goalkeeper Rudy Riou grasped well and then Riou again came to the rescue with a stunning stop from a Mevlut Erding header.

But a minute after the second of those two excellent saved Sochaux went ahead thanks to Perquis' header from a corner delivered by Nicolas Maurice-Belay, who was the main dangerman all game. Auxerre rarely looked like getting back into the game after the break, with their best chance actually coming when Sochaux defender Bojan Jokic nearly turned the ball into his own net.

As a result of the win Sochaux move up to 13th with 41 points while Auxerre have 40 points, just five points above the relegation zone.

Toulouse 0

Lorient 0

Match Stats

Toulouse plunged themselves further into danger near the foot of the table with a 0-0 stalemate with Lorient. Last season's surprise packages must now spring a few more revelations before the end of 2006/07 if they are to survive Ligue 1.

With Johan Elmander, Toulouse's impressive Scandinavian striker, injured it was always going to be a tough for the home side to assert suitable pressure.

Predictably therefore, Lorient bossed the first-half with only Achille Emana going close for the hosts on 16 minutes. Yohann Hautcoeur nearly opened the scoring twice with two firm strikes before Nicolas Marin saw his effort scrape past the base of the Toulouse post.

Realising that a loss would almost certainly mean Ligue 2 football next season, Elie Baup introduced attacking option Fodé Mansaré at the break. The change had the desired effect as the home side begin gently to push forward with Ebondo coming close to clever goal with an attempted lob over Audard.

At the other end though Lorient nearly stole all three points with a Fabrice Abriel header which Nicolas Douchez did very well to save.

Several minutes later, Abriel was involved once more as Toulouse were reduced to ten with Dominique Arribagé given his marching orders for a foul on the midfielder.

Fortunately for the home side, Lorient were unable to take advantage and although a point arrests Toulouse's recent decline, there is some serious work to do ahead of the trip next week to Monaco.

BB Bob

06-04-2008, 09:59 AM

Bordeaux cruise past Rennes
Goals from Alou Diarra and Fernando earn Laurent Blanc's Girondins a crucial win away to Guy Lacombe's Brittany hosts.

Ligue 1, Matchday 32
Saturday, April 5, 2008

Rennes 0

Bordeaux 2
Diarra 18, Fernando 83

Match Stats

Bordeaux scored a goal in each half to earn a deserved and vital 2-0 win over Rennes at Stade de la Route de Lorient.

The win extended Bordeaux's lead in second place over Nancy to nine points before Nancy's game at home to PSG on Sunday afternoon, putting Laurent Blanc's side in a commanding position with six Ligue 1 games to go.

Les Girondins' leading marksman Fernando Cavenaghi was surprisingly left on the bench from the start, but it didn't matter as two of the visiting midfielders weighed in with goals to earn the three points.

France international Alou Diarra was first on the scoreline, converting a corner after the ball had escaped Rennes defenders John Mensah and Stephane Mbia. Bordeaux pressed Rennes all over the field, forcing the hosts to cede possession and reducing them to long-range efforts as service to centre-forward Jimmy Briand was limited.

Rennes sent on Sylvain Wiltord as a substitute 10 minutes into the second-half but the former France international striker was unable to make much impact against his former club. Bordeaux continued to look dangerous on the break and a minute after their Brazilian star Wendel came close to getting his 12th Ligue 1 goal of the season from a free-kick they doubled their advantage. Again Bordeaux struck from a corner, with Fernando rising highest to head home at the far post.

Latvian Eagle

06-04-2008, 03:37 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/livo_62.jpg
"Look its quite chuffing simple. We score over that way...."

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/livo_63.jpg

Are you Palace in disguise? Another good result for Caen ( so I guess you aren't Palace in disguise then!)

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/livo_53.jpg

Let's face it, if Toulouse get relegated, we are going to miss colourful encounters like this....and Johan Elmander of course....and Elie Baup's baseball cap...

We'll take the Caen home shirt and Valencienne away kit for Palace's kits?! :p :o

BB Bob

06-04-2008, 04:10 PM

Now that's an interesting point. Personally, I always prefer to see Palace play in blue and red (rather than red and blue). But the fluorescent yellow? It's a bit chelsea isn't it. The sash - yes! The boys from Brazil - yes! Even an all new away kit based around the Lens kit/the lorient kit/the Toulouse kit/the Marseille kit/ or, even, the Bordeaux kit (the flying V) OK. But not, for me, a luminous, flak jacket kit (thanks all the same!)

philsick

06-04-2008, 04:21 PM

Originally posted by kabbott

20:00 Saint Etienne 4:1 Le Mans

:lux:

How did cleremont get on?

BB Bob

06-04-2008, 04:49 PM

vendredi 4 avril 2008
20h00 Nantes (2) 1-1 Niort (18)
Clermont Foot (5) 3-2 Montpellier (8)
Reims (14) 3-1 Sedan (7)
Brest (10) 1-1 Guingamp (11)
Châteauroux (13) 1-1 Amiens (15)
Gueugnon (20) 0-1 Boulogne-sur-Mer (16)
Libourne/Saint-Seurin (19) 2-0 Dijon (17)
20h30 Le Havre (1) 3-2 Angers (9)
samedi 5 avril 2008
20h00 Bastia (6) 0-1 AC Ajaccio (12)
lundi 7 avril 2008
20h30 Grenoble (4) - Troyes (3)

Had a bit of a scare against Montpellier, but did the job. I don't know what your french is like, but here is a quick summary from l'equipe:-

Clermont se reprend

Surpris à Angers (1-2) vendredi dernier, Clermont s'est de nouveau fait peur, à domicile cette fois, face à Montpellier mais a finalement renoué avec le succès. Menant 3-1 à la pause (grâce notamment au but de Lemoisier, auteur du 700e but de l'année en Ligue 2), les joueurs de Didier Ollé-Nicole ont souffert en deuxième période face à des Héraultais accrocheurs, qui ont réduit la marque sur penalty, mais ont finalement sû conserver leur avantage jusqu'au bout.

Basically, 3-1 up at HT and hung on a bit in the second! Still, 3 points are 3 points and with the Monday night game being 4 v 3, anything could happen!

Here's the table

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Le Havre 68 31 20 8 3 57 28 29
2 Nantes 63 31 18 9 4 48 25 23
3 Troyes 53 30 15 8 7 40 29 11

4 Clermont Foot 48 31 12 12 7 44 35 9
5 Grenoble 48 30 13 9 8 36 27 9
6 Bastia 45 31 13 7 11 39 32 7
7 Sedan 44 31 11 11 9 39 37 2
8 Montpellier 43 31 11 10 10 33 27 6
9 Angers 43 31 11 10 10 30 30 0
10 Brest 43 31 11 10 10 31 35 -4
11 Guingamp 41 31 10 11 10 30 29 1
12 AC Ajaccio 40 31 10 10 11 29 36 -7
13 Châteauroux 37 31 9 10 12 29 33 -4
14 Reims 37 31 10 7 14 37 45 -8
15 Boulogne-sur-Mer 36 31 10 6 15 33 44 -11
16 Amiens 34 31 8 10 13 37 42 -5
17 Dijon 33 31 7 12 12 26 42 -16

18 Niort 31 31 8 7 16 31 43 -12
19 Libourne/Saint-Seurin 30 31 7 9 15 36 46 -10
20 Gueugnon 16 31 2 10 19 28 48 -20

Pénalités :
Bastia : -1 point

philsick

06-04-2008, 04:55 PM

Thanx BB bob.Sounds nervy,but keeps things interesting.

BB Bob

06-04-2008, 06:29 PM

It's going to be tense at the Velodrome this evening. PSG, better side in the first half and, by all accounts, putting on a good show, still lost 1-0 at Nancy, so the ball is back in Marseille's court.
http://www.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/040408_braciglinao.jpghttp://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Media/060408_psg.jpg

Latvian Eagle

06-04-2008, 07:01 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Now that's an interesting point. Personally, I always prefer to see Palace play in blue and red (rather than red and blue). But the fluorescent yellow? It's a bit chelsea isn't it. The sash - yes! The boys from Brazil - yes! Even an all new away kit based around the Lens kit/the lorient kit/the Toulouse kit/the Marseille kit/ or, even, the Bordeaux kit (the flying V) OK. But not, for me, a luminous, flak jacket kit (thanks all the same!)

I prefered the more blue than red too (2002/03 Francis season for example). Everyone says that about bright yellow kits for some reason, but for me the illuminuous Yellow will always be sinonimous with Borussia Dortmund.

BB Bob

06-04-2008, 09:16 PM

1fa0

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Media/060408_om5.jpg

OM 3 OL 1

Great result for Marseille who, being honest, needed the result more than Lyon. Leaves the table like this:-

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Lyon 67 32 21 4 7 65 32 33
2 Bordeaux 61 32 18 7 7 56 34 22

3 Nancy 55 32 14 13 5 36 22 14

4 Marseille 52 32 14 10 8 47 34 13

5 Nice 44 32 10 14 8 27 24 3
6 Rennes 44 32 12 8 12 35 38 -3
7 Le Mans 44 32 12 8 12 36 42 -6
8 Lille 43 32 9 16 7 34 26 8
9 Saint-Etienne 43 31 12 7 12 37 32 5
10 Lorient 43 32 10 13 9 27 31 -4
11 Caen 43 32 11 10 11 35 43 -8
12 Valenciennes 41 32 11 8 13 37 32 5
13 Sochaux 41 32 10 11 11 29 34 -5
14 Monaco 40 32 11 7 14 33 39 -6
15 Auxerre 40 32 11 7 14 29 40 -11
16 Lens 35 31 8 11 12 35 40 -5
17 Toulouse 35 32 7 14 11 28 34 -6

18 Paris-SG 35 32 8 11 13 28 35 -7
19 Strasbourg 35 32 9 8 15 29 37 -8
20 Metz 18 32 4 7 21 22 56 -34

Pénalités :
Metz : -1 point

More demain.

GodstoneEagle

06-04-2008, 09:21 PM

i don't want PSG or toulouse to go down :(

BB Bob

07-04-2008, 07:13 AM

Ligue 1, Matchday 32
Sunday, April 6, 2008

Nancy 1
Fortuné 67

PSG 0

>> Match Stats

A second-half Marc-Antoine Fortuné goal was enough for Nancy to defeat PSG at a snowy Stade Marcel Picot. The victory plunges PSG into further trouble at the foot of the table while firmly establishing Nancy as a UEFA Champions League hopeful come May.

After lifting the League Cup last weekend and beating Strasbourg mid-week Paul le Guen's side were playing their third game in eight days. As a result, they started sluggishly. In a first-half dominated by Nancy but devoid of any real chances Landreau had to be sharp on 15 minutes to punch out a Pascal Berenguer free-kick while at the other end Gennaro Bracigliano saved similarly from Pauleta.

The second-half was a little different in terms of goalmouth action with Nancy yet again the controlling force. Five minutes after the restart Malonga found Issiar Dia at the far post only for the French forward to miss the target.

Soon after Dia made way for Marc-Antoine Fortuné and the 26-year-old took just eight minutes to make his mark with a fine header at the far post which Landreau clawed at but could do nothing to stop.

The goal inspired a change in PSG who introduced Peguy Luyindula alongside Pauleta and Diané with attacking midfielder Willamis Souza also making an appearance.

The substitutions had the desired effect as PSG pressed Nancy and with an equaliser looming David Sauget made an impressive block from a Pauleta shot to deny the capital club.

Predictably, PSG threw everybody forward but time caught up with the visitors as Nancy stood firm to put the Lorraine club on the verge of European history.

BB Bob

07-04-2008, 07:13 AM

Marseille stun Lyon
Marseille complete the league double over rivals Lyon for the first time in their history with a 3-1 victory to blow the Ligue 1 title race wide open.
Ligue 1, Matchday 32
Sunday, April 6, 2008

Marseille 3
Cissé 25, Niang 27, 54

Lyon 1
Cana (og) 46

>> Match Stats

Without a victory against Lyon in 11 years at the Vélodrome, OM strode to a fine 3-1 victory at home over the champions. After a 2-1 away win on Matchday 14, the south-coasters have now beaten Lyon home and away in the league for the first time ever.

Goals from OM's Djibril Cissé and Mamadou Niang (2) settled the encounter despite a Lorik Cana own-goal as Marseille gave hope not only to their European aspirations but also to Bordeaux's title dreams.

Nancy's earlier victory in the day against PSG meant that three points were a must for Eric Geret's side in the race for the third UEFA Champions League spot.

With Benzema and Cris out injured for the champions Alain Perrin fielded Fred up front with former Newcastle man Jean-Alain Boumsong handed a start alongside Sébastien Squillaci.

In a frantic start Nasri missed an excellent chance after great play from Akalé on the right. Alone in the box, the youngster somehow managed to put his shot wide with the open goal beckoning.

Marseille's bright start continued for much of the half. And when Fred was forced from the field following a clumsy challenge by Marseille captain Lorik Cana, OM took full advantage.

Making up for his earlier miss, Nasri squared a wonderful ball to Cissé who took one touch and thumped a shot above and beyond Coupet to set the Vélodrome jumping. Less than two minutes later Niang made it two when Cissé unselfishly played his strike partner through for the Senegal forward to blast home.

Lyon's response came in the form of two wayward Juninho free-kicks before, in first-half injury-time, the Brazilian sent over a dangerous ball which Cana, under pressure from Boumsong, could only divert past his own 'keeper.

It was a cruel end to the half for Marseille and Lyon maintained the momentum into the second period with substitute Hatem Ben Arfa forcing Steve Mandanda into a rushed save.

Nevertheless, Marseille stood their ground and further surprised Lyon with a third goal against the run of play, Niang heading past Coupet from a Cheyrou corner.

And it could have been more five minutes from time had Cheyrou directed a daisy-cutter inside the post with Coupet beaten.

When Squillaci blasted a Govou rebound over the post with two minutes left on the clock Lyon knew that it was all over. Understandably, the Vélodrome erupted with joy at the final whistle. Having secured a historic double over the champions Marseille have a firm psychological advantage in the season's remaining games.

For Lyon the champions must return to the drawing board and regroup ahead of next weekend's game at home to Rennes. With a league and cup double still on the cards the six-time championship winners will not give up easily. But with only six points separating them and Bordeaux the race for the title is far from won.

BB Bob

07-04-2008, 07:21 AM

...and a little piece in the Times today:-

Best not good enough

For the second straight year, it looks as if Lyons will win the French title and change their manager. It happened with Gérard Houllier last season, it will probably occur with Alain Perrin this summer. The club are unhappy at the way the former Portsmouth manager dealt with some of the star players this season and feel that Lyons were unimpressive (even though they could complete the domestic double). Didier Deschamps, the former AS Monaco and Juventus head coach, is tipped to take over. Lyons have won the French league title every season since 2001-02. Being the best team in France evidently is not enough

Latvian Eagle

07-04-2008, 04:31 PM

1fae

Great result for Marseille! :lux: Had a feeling they'd turn over Lyon!

BB Bob

07-04-2008, 05:19 PM

Me too. It keeps it all very interesting for the rest if us!

BB Bob

09-04-2008, 04:40 PM

Oh dear. Lens away at St Etienne tonight desperate for something. Let's cheer them on, cos otherwise it looks like we'll have to go to Valenciennes next season to watch L1 action!

BB Bob

09-04-2008, 07:39 PM

http://www.frenchleague.com/photo/grandFormat/uk_0708_gomis_saintetienne_mono.jpg

Oh double dear. Gomes - he of the lion walk celebration - scores a double. Lens in the merde.

Ligue 1, Matchday 31
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard
Saint-Etienne 2
Gomis 13, 15

Lens 0

Match Stats

A Bafetimbi Gomis first-half brace swept Saint-Etienne to victory against a lacklustre Lens who look now in real danger of conceding their Ligue 1 status.

The young French striker scored in the 13th and 15th minutes to knock the breath out of Lens who, although they came close to reducing the score, never threatened enough to suggest they deserved a point.

Due to their losing appearance in the League Cup final Lens were playing their Matchday 31 game over a week later than the rest of the league. Their last-minute defeat in the first cup final of the season to PSG was a debilitating one with a subsequent 1-1 draw in the league with bottom club Metz further continuing the northern club's malaise.

By contrast, les Verts are riding a wave a tremendous form. With seven goals in their last two games, Laurent Roussey's side are making a concerted effort to finish in the top five, a position which would reward the club with a precious European place next season.

And less then 13 minutes in Gomis set the home side on their way with a powerful shot at the near post. Less than 120 seconds later the youngster made it 2-0 when he was quickest to follow up a Geoffrey Dernis shot.

Soon after Kevin Monnet-Paquet missed the chance to reduce the score for Lens when Jody Viviani put the youngster's effort wide for a corner before Hilton missed with an opportunity six minutes before half-time.

Lens huffed and puffed in the second-half but save for a disallowed Dindane goal – for handball – les Sang et Or could not break down the comfortable hosts with Saint-Etienne playing out the remaining time with ease.
http://www.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/0904_derni.jpg

BB Bob

09-04-2008, 10:12 PM

If you don't read french, sorry. But you should as this is a lovely piece. Like Martin Samuels in the times, l'equipe consistently has first class piece written by top journalists and rarely doesn't leave me with a grin on my face.

Si le phénoménal succès du film de Dany Boon « Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis » a boosté l'attrait pour le Pas de Calais, il n'a eu en revanche aucun effet sur sa célèbre équipe de foot, le Racing Club de Lens. Les Artésiens n'y arrivent pas, décidément pas. Samedi soir contre la lanterne rouge Metz (1-1), ils ont perdu deux points ô combien précieux dans la lutte pour le maintien et, ce mercredi, ils ont plongé à Saint-Etienne (2-0), nouveau cinquième au classement après ce match en retard de la 31e journée. Dix-septièmes, les hommes de Papin restent un souffle devant le Paris-SG, le premier relégable.

Ce qu'il manque à Lens, c'est une panthère comme celle qui fait actuellement fureur dans les rangs de l'AS Saint-Etienne. Bafetimbi Gomis a signé un doublé en deux minutes, ce qui porte son total de buts à 13. Le désormais troisième meilleur buteur du championnat derrière Benzema (17 buts) et Niang (15 buts) a sorti ses griffes une première fois à la 13e minute d'une frappe en pleine course à 25 mètres, au ras du poteau de Runje. Sous un joli déluge, le gardien croate et sa défense se sont noyés une nouvelle fois une poignée de secondes plus tard sur un contre emmené par Dernis, l'autre homme en forme des Verts. L'ancien Lillois a vu sa frappe repoussée par Runje mais Gomis était au point de chute du ballon (15e).

Avec un peu d'optimisme, les supporters lensois pouvaient se dire qu'à aller, leur équipe avaient su remonter deux buts pour finalement l'emporter (3-2). Il n'y a cette fois pas eu de miracle dans le Forez malgré quelques tentatives. Monnet-Paquet (21e) et Ramos (39e) ont bien fait passer quelques frissons dans les travées de Geoffroy-Guichard mais l'impuissance lensoise a perduré en seconde période. Dominateurs, les Sang et Or à l'image de Dindane (65e) et Belhadj (66e) ont un peu manqué de précision. Lens n'a comme les autres plus de joker.

I could google translate it for you, but it would lose all of the subtlety that makes french such a lovely language.

BB Bob

10-04-2008, 03:22 PM

If you ever wondered where all these places are, hopefully this will help...

PJJY

10-04-2008, 04:13 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Oh double dear. Gomis - he of the lion walk celebration - scores a double. Lens in the merde.

What are your views on Gomis BB?

Apparently Newcastle and a few other Prem clubs are looking at him, got called the 'Next Didier Drogba' in one of the tabs.

Overhyped or is he actually pretty good?

BB Bob

10-04-2008, 04:40 PM

He's OK, but I don't think he's the finished article yet. Then again 13 goals in 29 games isn't too bad. He's certainly got the physical attributes and must have the best goal celebration in the League. Personally, I think another season in L1 will be the best thing for him. But you know the kids these days - Newcastle come knocking...the bright lights, the fat paychecks, the geordie women, the english cuisine, the glory and titles, the weather...how could he say no.

Fiche d'identité

© L'EquipePays France
Age 22 ans
Date de naissance 6 août 1985
Lieu de naissance La Seyne-sur-Mer
Taille 1m84
Poids 77 kg
Poste Attaquant
Club actuel Saint-Etienne
Ligue 1 2007-2008
Matchs 29 (Titulaire : 22, Remplaçant : 7)
Minutes jouées 2071
Buts 13>> Le détail des buts
Cartons 3

Carrière
Saison Club Pays Div. Championnat
Matchs Buts
03-04 Saint-Etienne 2 11 2
04-05(jan) Saint-Etienne 1 6 0
04-05 Troyes 2 13 6
05-06 Saint-Etienne 1 24 2
06-07 Saint-Etienne 1 30 10
07-08 Saint-Etienne 1 29 13

Latvian Eagle

11-04-2008, 01:06 PM

Heard this lad is pretty decent!

But what is his celebration!? (I haven't seen it!)

BB Bob

11-04-2008, 03:50 PM

228a

Don't get me wrong. I think he's a super player and has bags of potential. I'm just not sure he'd hold down a starting spot at a Premiership club (unless we get promoted, of course, in which case we should sign him straight away!)

He does this panther walk/lion walk thing. A bit like this...
http://vertforever.football.fr/images/1167425532gomis.jpg
or this

http://www.football.fr/fr/images/200730/10521gomis.jpg

BB Bob

11-04-2008, 03:54 PM

This weeks previews:-

Ligue 1, Matchday 33
LYON v RENNES (Stade de Gerland)
Saturday, April 12, 2008 (4.10pm kick-off UK time)

>> Pre-Match Stats

>> Previous meetings

Lyon face Rennes desperate not only to earn three points to take another step towards their seventh consecutive Ligue 1 title but also to wash away memories of their shock setback at Marseille last week.

Losing to Eric Gerets' south coast hosts wasn't a huge surprise in itself – but the manner of Lyon's defeat was. They were comprehensively outplayed from beginning to end and ended up losing 3-1, which is almost a humiliation by their high standards. As a result, they'll be extra determined to win here.

To be fair, there were mitigating circumstances to Lyon's defeat – centre-half Cris was unable to play, and les Lyonnais lost key men Jeremy Toulalan and Fred to injuries during the opening half-hour. But coach Alain Perrin will have insisted his players return to winning ways here because they want to wrap up the Ligue 1 title as soon as possible.

Rennes also go into this game on the back of a defeat, having lost 2-0 at home to second-placed Bordeaux last weekend. It was their first defeat in seven matches as goals from Alou Diarra and Fernando in either half earned Laurent Blanc's visitors the points.

But Rennes still have plenty to play for thanks to their revival since the turn of the year, which has seen them climb from the relegation battle to the fringes of the European places. They lie seventh, which gives them a decent chance of claiming a Uefa Cup berth if events between now and the end of the season turn in their favour.

One man who would be desperate to play here but will probably start on the bench is Sylvain Wiltord. The former France international striker left Lyon in acrimonious circumstances to join Rennes last summer, but after an excellent start on his return to Brittany he has been forced out since Guy Lacombe's arrival as manager in December. There is no room for Wiltord in Lacombe's 4-2-3-1 formation at the moment, with Jimmy Briand the first-choice striker and Mickael Pagis excelling in the roaming role behind him.

For Lyon it will be left to the likes of Fred (if fit), Hatem Ben Arfa and returning striker Karim Benzema for Lyon to grab the headlines up front – and you'd be brave to bet against them.

Ligue 1, Matchday 33
PSG v NICE (Parc des Princes)
Sunday, April 13, 2008 (7.55pm kick-off UK time)

>> Pre-Match Statistics

>> Previous meetings

PSG face Nice at Parc des Princes on Sunday night with memories of their Coupe de la Ligue win over Lens a fortnight ago fading fast.

The capital club's 2-1 triumph at Stade de France – earned thanks to an injury-time winner from the penalty sport that substitute Bernard Mendy converted – was easily the highlight of their season – but now it's down to the more serious business of retaining Ligue 1 status.

PSG are famous for having never been relegated, but they are in serious danger of going down as they are hovering just outside the bottom three on goal difference. Last week's 1-0 defeat at Nancy was a major blow after their 1-0 win over Strasbourg four days earlier.

One of the men PSG will have to watch here is their former player David Hellebuyck. The 28-year-old left-footed midfielder has had a nomadic career – after starting out at Lyon he's also spent time at Guingamp, Lausanne and St Etienne before joining Nice last summer following a disappointing season at PSG in 2006-07, where he made only 12 appearances and scored one goal.

Hellebuyck has one of the best shots from outside the area in Ligue 1, so PSG's defensive midfielders will have to keep a close eye on him. But Nice front man Bakari Kone is arguably an even bigger danger.

The Ivory Coast striker was back to his electrifying best in Nice's 0-0 draw against Lille last weekend, winning a penalty with a typically energetic run into the penalty area that drew a foul from Lille centre-half Adel Rami. Nice's Brazilian playmaker Ederson missed from the spot – but with Kone in that sort of form PSG's centre-halves can expect a difficult evening.

Not that Nice are in excellent form, however. They have won just one in 11 matches, and that came away to bottom club Metz (2-1). Indeed, that was the only time Nice have scored two goals in a single Ligue 1 match since the last time they played PSG – back on November 25.

On that occasion at Stade du Ray Nice won 2-1, with veteran striker Lilian Laslandes opening the scoring for the hosts before PSG's 18-year-old striker David Ngog equalised. But in the 37th minute that man Kone popped up with the winner a brilliant drive. PSG will know he's fully capable of repeating the trick on Sunday night - tune in to catch the action.

Ligue 1, Matchday 33
BORDEAUX v CAEN (Stade Chaban-Delmas)
Sunday, April 13, 2008 (5pm kick-off UK time)

>> Pre-Match Statistics

>> Previous meetings

Bordeaux face Caen in Sunday afternoon's clash knowing that a Champions League place will be theirs for the taking with a couple more wins.

Les Girondins beat Rennes 2-0 last weekend to follow up their 2-1 victory over nearest challengers Nancy the week before, which means Bordeaux are now six points clear of third-placed Nancy with six games to go.

Last week's win over Rennes was all the more impressive because it was achieved with 12-goal leading scorer and talismanic figure Fernando Cavenaghi left on the bench – a sign not only of Bordeaux's strength in depth but also their ability to score goals from midfield as well as attack.

It's hard to believe now, but nobody tipped Bordeaux to be challenging for a Champions League spot when Laurent Blanc took over as manager last summer. "Le President", as he was known during his playing career, replaced Ricardo, who had led the club to a runners-up spot in 2005-06 and a Coupe de la Ligue victory in 2007, and many observers predicted a season of transition as Blanc settled into his first senior coaching role.

But the former France international centre-half has proved an instant success in the managerial hot seat thanks to a mix of astute signings last summer, tactics that suit the players at his disposal and canny squad rotation to cope with the combined exertions of a busy Ligue 1 programme and UEFA Cup participation until the last 32 stage.

An emphasis on technical football and the freedom granted to Bordeaux's gifted attacking players, such as Brazilian pair Wendel and Fernando in midfield, plus playmaker Johan Micoud, Cavenaghi and David Bellion, have seen Bordeaux play some of the most exciting football in France.

Blanc certainly lets his players off the leash in front of their fans at Stade Chaban-Delmas – Bordeaux's home matches have averaged 3.13 goals, which is more than all teams but Lyon and a far cry from the defensive football Blanc's predecessor Ricardo favoured.

It's also a sign of Blanc's enterprising tactics that the goals have been shared around – Bordeaux are the only team in Ligue 1 to have three players – Cavenaghi on 12 goals and Wendel and Bellion on 11 – in double figures for the season. Indeed, Marseille are the only club to have two players with 10 or more for the campaign – so it's clear that Bordeaux pose a genuine goals threat from all angles.

Caen's greatest chance of getting something from the game will be stopping the Bordeaux attacks that come forward like waves – many have tried but failed before. As a result this could be a hugely entertaining match, with the hosts clear favourites.

BB Bob

11-04-2008, 04:00 PM

Yep, its loto time again. Feel free to join in - you can't do any worse than I usually do!

Matchday 33 - Saturday, April 12, 2008
17:10 Lyon Rennes

Home win

20:00 Le Mans Auxerre

Home win

20:00 Lille Nancy

Draw

20:00 Lorient Lens

Draw

20:00 Metz Marseille

Away win

20:00 Monaco Toulouse

Draw

20:00 Sochaux Saint Etienne

Home win

20:00 Valenciennes Strasbourg

Home win

Matchday 33 - Sunday, April 13, 2008
18:00 Bordeaux Caen

Home win

20:55 Paris SG Nice

Draw

kabbott

12-04-2008, 08:47 AM

Je suis de retour!
After a little week back in Blighty in wonderful Worthing, it's back to the nitty-gritty of le Championnat. Of course, while I was away I couldn't trust l'OL to get something from l'OM. They'd better get back to winning ways this afternoon. So here's my loto sportif ...

Lyon v Rennes Home win
Le Mans v Auxerre Draw
Lille v Nancy Home win
Lorient v Lens Draw
Metz v Marseille Draw
Monaco v Toulouse Draw
Sochaux v St. Etienne Draw
Valenciennes v Strasbourg Away win
Bordeaux v Caen Home win
PSG v Nice Draw (I hope for everyone's sake it doesn't 'kick off' there)

A plus!

BB Bob

12-04-2008, 09:06 AM

OL v OM - bad news

Stoke v Palace - good news!

Did you get to see the game in some Brighton fan infested Worthing inn on Monday night?

Latvian Eagle

12-04-2008, 09:29 AM

Lyon v Rennes (Draw)
Le Mans v Auxerre (Away win)
Lille v Nancy (Draw)
Lorient v Lens (Away win)
Metz v Marseille (Away win)
Monaco v Toulouse (Home win)
Sochaux v St. Etienne (away win)
Valenciennes v Strasbourg (Home win)
Bordeaux v Caen (Home win)
PSG v Nice (Home win)

kabbott

12-04-2008, 10:20 AM

Originally posted by BB Bob
OL v OM - bad news

Stoke v Palace - good news!

Did you get to see the game in some Brighton fan infested Worthing inn on Monday night?

NO!!! Was well pi**ed off with that. For professional reasons I couldn't really get out. So was just getting updates on the BBC mobile site. Mind you, it's better to have won with me not getting to see the game than tthe opposite. I got into a pub a few nights later, my 'local' called The Selden, I think, and heard some of the locals talking about Palace's chances of going up this season. They certainly didn't seem pro Brighton just ordinary football fans mentioning Palace two minutes after talking about the Liverpool Arsenal game.
So it's back to a typical afternoon 'listening' to the game with you guys and then settling down to Lyon v Rennes at the end of the afternoon on Canal+, hoping that Sylvain Wiltord won't go and stab us in the back!

BB Bob

12-04-2008, 05:16 PM

Merde alors!

Lyon (1) 1 - 1 Rennes (7)
Cris (15e) M'Bia (90e(+2))

I'm sure kabbott will fill us in on the horrible details, but a late, late, late equaliser for Rennes. Maybe the season isn't over, after all.....

BB Bob

12-04-2008, 09:31 PM

Quick round up of the scores from tonight. I've got the in-laws and the outlaws round, so just the highlights!

Matchday 33 - Saturday, April 12, 2008
17:10 Lyon 1 - 1 Rennes
20:00 Le Mans 3 - 0 Auxerre
20:00 Lille 2 - 1 Nancy
20:00 Lorient 1 - 0 Lens
20:00 Metz 1 - 2 Marseille
20:00 Monaco 0 - 2 Toulouse
20:00 Sochaux 1 - 1 Saint Etienne
20:00 Valenciennes 2 - 0 Strasbourg

and the table

Ligue 1 Orange P W D L GD Pts
1 Lyon 33 21 5 7 +33 68
2 Bordeaux 32 18 7 7 +22 61
3 Marseille 33 15 10 8 +14 55

4 Nancy 33 14 13 6 +13 55

5 Saint Etienne 33 13 8 12 +7 47
6 Le Mans 33 13 8 12 -3 47
7 Lille 33 10 16 7 +9 46
8 Lorient 33 11 13 9 -3 46
9 Rennes 33 12 9 12 -3 45
10 Valenciennes 33 12 8 13 +7 44
11 Nice 32 10 14 8 +3 44
12 Caen 32 11 10 11 -8 43
13 Sochaux 33 10 12 11 -5 42
14 Monaco 33 11 7 15 -8 40
15 Auxerre 33 11 7 15 -14 40
16 Toulouse 33 8 14 11 -4 38
17 Paris SG 32 8 11 13 -7 35

18 Lens 33 8 11 14 -8 35
19 Strasbourg 33 9 8 16 -10 35
20 Metz 33 4 7 22 -35 18

So much to say...so little time! A plus!

BB Bob

12-04-2008, 09:37 PM

Stuff 'em. This is much too exciting. Fantastic result for les violets as Toulouse get a result at hapless Monaco. Gomis has some fans, I know, but I really like Elmander. My kind of player I guess, but his civilian wear needs a bit of work. He was spotted onthe sidelines last week when injured sporting a very dodgy raincoat and belt combo... And Lens. Oh la la la la. JPP needs the magic potion and some.

What kind of crazy league is this, anyway? NIce go from 5th to 11th without even kicking a ball! Let's hope they get a result at the parc tomorrow!

kabbott

12-04-2008, 10:00 PM

Been a bit busy myself today. But I saw a dreadful Lyon second half. They'd gone 1:0 up rather against the run of play, and in the 2nd half they looked jaded and not really up for it. The Rennes equaliser was on the cards. Corner to the near post, one of the Rennes players got his head to a low ball and it went in at the near post where one of the full backs really should have been defending.

Obviously a good result for Toulouse and another stinker for Lens. It looks like a couple of big teams could be going down this year. More tomorrow with thoughts on Gomis and Elmander.

Bonne nuit!

BB Bob

13-04-2008, 08:59 AM

Lyon 1
Cris 15

Rennes 1
Mbia 92

>> Match Stats

Lyon missed a golden opportunity to maintain their six-point lead over Bordeaux when Stephane M'Bia notched an injury-time equaliser.

Rennes' 1-1 draw means Lyon's advantage will be pegged back to four points if nearest challengers les Girondins beat Caen at Stade Chaban-Delmas tomorrow. That would make for an exhilarating finale to the season with just five games to go.

Yet it looked like Alain Perrin's hosts had done enough after Cris' 15th-minute header gave them the lead. The Brazilian rose to nod home compatriot Juninho's corner but thereafter Lyon missed some good chances to increase their lead.

Sweden midfielder Kim Kallstrom saw a stunning long-range shot tipped away by Rennes goalkeeper Patrice Luzi in the first-half and then Ligue 1's leading scorer Karim Benzema came even closer when just the width of the woodwork prevented him notching his 18th goal of the season as his shot slammed against the crossbar.

But then, just as it looked as though the clock would tick down to another Lyon victory, Rennes equalised. Mickael Pagis delivered the corner and M'Bia found the net with a diving header at the far post. Rennes fall to ninth because of other results going against them but are still within striking distance of fifth place.

Metz 1
Barbosa 3

Marseille 2
Cisse 14, Nasri 57

>> Match Stats

After last week's inspirational victory over Lyon, Marseille's bid for a Champions League spot was given another boost after they came from behind to beat lowly Metz 2-1.

Marseille went into the game full of confidence, but that quickly vanished when Metz scored with virtually the first attack of the match... to the delight of the capacity crowd at the Stade Symphorien. A superb cross from Senegal full-back Cheikh Matar Gueye - back in the starting XI after suspension - found Cedric Barbosa unmarked on the penalty spot and he made no mistake, powering a header past the helpless Steve Mandanda in the Marseille goal.

But Marseille under Eric Gerets are a tougher proposition than in previous years and their character shone through once again as they levelled the match on 14 minutes. It was leading scorer Djibril Cisse, the former Liverpool striker, who made the decisive breakthrough. A swift interchange between Mamadou Niang and Laurent Bonnart set Marseille on their way, and when the latter's cross was flicked on by Kanga Akale, Cisse was on the spot to pounce for his 13th goal of an impressive season.

From that point on it was all Marseille, but it took until nearly the hour mark for the visitors to get their noses in front. It had been a while coming, but the goal was certainly worth the wait as the ever-impressive Samir Nasri smashed an unstoppable shot past the helpless Christophe Marichez to fire Marseille up to third.

Sochaux 1
Grax 68

St Etienne 1
Ilan 8

>> Match Stats

St Etienne lost ground in the race for Europe after a score-draw against mid-table Sochaux at the Stade Bonal.

After three consecutive victories, St Etienne arrived in excellent form, but in Sochaux they found a team that has claimed a creditable 25 points since the beginning of the year. A keenly contested match was clearly to be expected, and it was the home side who had the first chance to strike, Nicolas Maurice-Belay being denied by a saving tackle from Mustapha Sall.

But having dominated the opening exchanges, Sochaux soon paid a heavy price for such profligacy, when just moments later the visitors took the lead. There seemed to be little danger when possession was lost in midfield, but former Sochaux player Ilan had other ideas. The Brazilian forward, perhaps seeing Sochaux goalkeeper Teddy Richert unprepared for the shot, drove straight towards the opposition goal and let fly from fully 25 metres with an unstoppable shot.

But Sochaux refused to be daunted and were rewarded with an excellent equaliser 22 minutes from time. A nifty piece of footwork from Maurice-Belay created room for a cross and striker Sebastien Grax was first to the ball to plant a header past Jody Viviani.

Le Mans 3
Samassa 25, Le Tallec 59, Sessegnon 72

Auxerre 0

>> Match Stats

Le Mans climb two places to sixth in Ligue 1 after a comprehensive 3-0 win over Auxerre at Stade Leon Bollee.

The home side's hopes of securing a European berth next season have been dented by their failure to win a league match since February 23, and without the likes of Gervinho, Marko Basa, Tulio De Melo and Ibrahima Camara in the starting line-up for this crucial match against Auxerre, coach Rudi Garcia was forced to rely on youngsters such as Ludovic Baal, Samuel Bouhours and Modibo Maiga.

But an injury to Maiga, ironically, led to the introduction of another exciting young talent, Mamadou Samassa, and within seconds of coming on, the 21-year-old had given his side the lead. A great corner from captain Romaric eluded the entire Auxerre defence, but not Samassa, who made no mistake in burying a header to open the scoring.

With Benin midfielder Stephane Sessegnon at the heart of everything, Le Mans pressed hard for a second goal and early in the second half that positive intent was rewarded. Sessegnon's excellent cross was met by former Liverpool striker Antony Le Tallec and yet another header flew past the outstretched hand of a furious Remy Riou. Thirteen minutes later it really was game over when the provider turned scorer, Sessegnon pouncing on a loose ball in the box to score.

Lille 2
Bastos (pen) 16, Mirallas 39

Nancy 1
Andre Luiz 45

>> Match Stats

Nancy's hopes of claiming a Champions League place suffered a major blow as Lille won 2-1 in this entertaining clash at Stade Metropole.

Lille's Brazilian midfielder Michel Bastos gave his side the lead with his thumping left foot when he converted a penalty on 16 minutes. The spot-kick came about when dashing Switzerland winger Stefan Lichtsteiner burst into the box only for Nancy left-back Frederic Biancalani to haul him down. The same player was at the heart of the move that led to Lille doubling their lead, as he found Ludovic Obraniak before the ball broke to Kevin Mirallas and the Belgium international fire home his second Ligue 1 goal of the season.

In between Lille's two strikes Nancy midfielder Chris Malonga saw his shot come back off the post but Nancy reduced the deficit from a more unlikely source. Just before half-time Benjamin Gavanon's corner evaded Lille goalkeeper Tony Sylva and centre-half Andre Luiz headed home unmarked at the far post.

After the break Malonga hit the post a second time with another left-foot effort – which suggested it wasn't to be Nancy's night. And so it proved as Lille held on to win, although there was some bad news for Claude Puel's hosts as striker Pierre-Alain Frau was shown a straight red card two minutes from time. It was definitely a worse night for Nancy, though, as they fell to fourth behind Marseille on goal difference. Lille climb to seventh.

Lorient 1
Saifi 85

Lens 0

>> Match Stats

A late strike from striker Rafik Saifi earned Lorient a priceless win over Jean-Pierre Papin's struggling Lens side, who now find themselves in the bottom three.

Lens arrived at the Moustoir on a terrible run of form that had seen them fail to win in nine, and as the rain fell it was little surprise that the match was seemingly devoid of chances. Approaching the hour mark, there had been only two efforts on goal but then came a moment that might have turned the game in favour of Lens.

A cross from the Portuguese defender Marco Ramos was met by the advancing Aruna Dindane, and the Ivory Coast striker's shot cannoned back off the post with Fabien Audard well beaten in the Lorient goal. The game didn't have a goal but the incident appeared to stir both sets of players and when Dindane again went close with six minutes to go - Audard this time made a great save - the home fans must have feared the worst.

But a minute later they were ecstatic as Lens goalkeeper Vedran Runje spilled a shot and watched helpessly as Saifi smashed home his 12th goal of the season on the half-volley to steal all three points.

Samedi 12 avril 2008

Valenciennes 2
Savidan 26, 43

Strasbourg 0

>> Match Stats

Steve Savidan marked his return to the Valenciennes starting line-up with a superb double strike to take his Ligue 1 tally to 12 for the season as Strasbourg fell closer to relegation.

The Valenciennes hitman – left out of their 1-0 defeat at Caen last weekend – scored twice before half-time to earn his side all three points against visitors who looked low on confidence throughout the game and never looked likely to get back into the game once Savidan had given the hosts the lead.

His opener was a powerful header that gave Strasbourg goalkeeper Stephane Cassard no chance and his second was a penalty after Gregory Paisley pushed over Sebastien Roudet in the box. Savidan made no mistake from the spot.

Having earned such domination of the game before the break Valenciennes eased off considerably in the second-half and were comfortable as Jean-Marc Furlan's visitors failed to create openings. And now Strasbourg find themselves in serious trouble – this was their sixth straight defeat so they remain 19th, three points from safety. Valenciennes move up to 10th and are once again within striking distance of a top-six spot.

Monaco 0

Toulouse 2
Batlles 4, Elmander 47

>> Match Stats

Toulouse's revival continued as they took another giant towards step towards safety thanks to a 2-0 win over direct rivals Monaco.

Johan Elmander was back from injury and played a vital role in the victory as he set up the first goal and scored the second. The Sweden international, such an inspirational figure, wrapped things up with his 11th Ligue 1 goal of the season on 46 minutes after having created the opening goal for midfielder Laurent Batlles, who gave Toulouse the perfect possible start with his fourth-minute opener.

After falling behind Monaco's Sergio Almiron missed the ideal opportunity to draw the hosts level when he headed against the crossbar three minutes after Batlles' strike – but Ricardo's home side struggled to created chances after that and never really looked likely to get anything out of the game.

Indeed, Ricardo will be disappointed with his defenders for their poor marking when Batlles scored as he was left totally alone at the back post and calmly converted Elmander's cross to leave Monaco goalkeeper Flavio Roma no chance.

Batlles returned the favour, setting up Elmander for Toulouse's second as Elie Baup's visitors caught Monaco cold at the start of the second-half. The strike came within two minutes of the restart – and means Toulouse pull three points clear of the relegation zone. They lie 16th while Monaco are 14th on 40pts.

BB Bob

13-04-2008, 09:06 AM

http://www.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/120408_kall.jpg

...but Micoud said if I did it like this...

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/drul_29.jpg

Marseille go 3rd on goal difference

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/drul_6.jpg

Nancy out of the Euro places for the first time this season. Lille go from strength to strength. Is that Dutch twat even on the bench now?

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/drul_14.jpg

Steve Savidan ensures Valenciennes L1 status.

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Football/Dossiers/Media/drul_32.jpg
And an excellent away win for Toulouse, inspired by Johan Elmander (who will surely be somewhere else next season)

kabbott

13-04-2008, 10:38 AM

Loto sportif update.
So how are we doing so far?

BB Bob 3 out of 8
Latvian Eagle 3 out of 8
kabbott 2 out of 8

with 2 matches still to be played today. There's definitely room for improvement here. Here's hoping Caen can do Lyon a favour this afternoon by getting something from Bordeaux.
Lyon's President Aulas was far from a happy man last night after Lyon's feeble performance, laying the blame once again on poor Reggie Perrin for his bad team selection. He played Fred up front with Benzema who was back from injury, whereas he 'should have' played Ben Arfa who's been 'polishing' the subs' bench (as they say) for the last 10 or so matches. Poor Reggie's in a no-win situation over here. Didier Deschamp's name was mentioned as a possible replacement for next season in the press this morning.

BB Bob

13-04-2008, 11:35 AM

Originally posted by kabbott
Loto sportif update.
So how are we doing so far?

BB Bob 3 out of 8
Latvian Eagle 3 out of 8
kabbott 2 out of 8

with 2 matches still to be played today. There's definitely room for improvement here. Here's hoping Caen can do Lyon a favour this afternoon by getting something from Bordeaux.
Lyon's President Aulas was far from a happy man last night after Lyon's feeble performance, laying the blame once again on poor Reggie Perrin for his bad team selection. He played Fred up front with Benzema who was back from injury, whereas he 'should have' played Ben Arfa who's been 'polishing' the subs' bench (as they say) for the last 10 or so matches. Poor Reggie's in a no-win situation over here. Didier Deschamp's name was mentioned as a possible replacement for next season in the press this morning.

Didier Deschamps would be a good thing, wouldn't it? Poor old Reggie. It's a tough enough job anyway, without your chairman constantly sniping away at you in the background. Off to Monaco for him next year then...

philsick

13-04-2008, 12:04 PM

Cleremont result?

kabbott

13-04-2008, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by philsick
Cleremont result?

jeudi 10 avril 2008
20h30 Montpellier (8) 2-1 Bastia (6)
vendredi 11 avril 2008
20h00 AC Ajaccio (12) 2-1 Nantes (2)
Troyes (3) 2-2 Gueugnon (20)
Dijon (17) 0-0 Grenoble (4)
Niort (18) 1-0 Clermont Foot (5)
Sedan (7) 2-0 Brest (10)
Angers (9) 3-0 Châteauroux (13)
Amiens (16) 1-0 Reims (14)
Boulogne-sur-Mer (15) 1-0 Libourne/Saint-Seurin (19)
20h30 Guingamp (11) 1-1 Le Havre (1)

Disappointing result against a team obviously fighting to stay up. I'll try and get some more info on the match plus the league table later. Looking at the results, none of the teams above Clermont fared any better. I just know Le Havre needed a win to be sure of going up and so they'll just have to wait for the next match probably.

philsick

13-04-2008, 12:37 PM

Thanx:p

Shame about the result:confused:

kabbott

13-04-2008, 01:03 PM

Originally posted by philsick
Thanx:p

Shame about the result:confused:

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Le Havre 69 32 20 9 3 58 29 29
2 Nantes 63 32 18 9 5 49 27 22
3 Troyes 54 32 15 9 8 42 33 9

4 Grenoble 52 32 14 10 8 38 27 11
5 Clermont Foot 48 32 12 12 8 44 36 8
6 Sedan 47 32 12 11 9 41 37 4
7 Montpellier 46 32 12 10 10 35 28 7
8 Angers 46 32 12 10 10 33 30 3
9 Bastia 45 32 13 7 12 40 34 6
10 AC Ajaccio 43 32 11 10 11 31 37 -6
- Brest 43 32 11 10 11 31 37 -6
12 Guingamp 42 32 10 12 10 31 30 1
13 Boulogne-sur-Mer 39 32 11 6 15 34 44 -10
14 Amiens 37 32 9 10 13 38 42 -4
15 Châteauroux 37 32 9 10 13 29 36 -7
16 Reims 37 32 10 7 15 37 46 -9
17 Niort 34 32 9 7 16 32 43 -11

18 Dijon 34 32 7 13 12 26 42 -16
19 Libourne/Saint-Seurin 30 32 7 9 16 36 47 -11
20 Gueugnon 17 32 2 11 19 30 50 -20

Pénalités :
Bastia : -1 point

BB Bob

13-04-2008, 03:40 PM

Le Havre are almost there
Le Havre are on the brink of a return to Ligue 1 Orange for the first time since 2003 - their 1-1 draw at Guingamp left them the formality of needing just one more point from their remaining six matches to make sure of promotion.
The Ligue 2 championship title is also in their grasp after second-placed Nantes surprisingly slipped to a 2-1 defeat away to Ajaccio. Le Havre's lead is six points plus a superior goal difference.

When Eduardo dos Santos fired Guingamp into the lead after just eleven minutes, the near-10,000 crowd sat back to anticipate a surprise result.

But Le Havre came out fighting in the second half and it took them only two minutes after the break to draw level through Amadou Alassane with his sixth goal of the season.

It's a shame Clermont couldn't get a result as Troyes show every sign of c*cking it up!!!

kabbott

13-04-2008, 05:11 PM

Caen are holding Bordeaux 0:0 at H.T.

kabbott

13-04-2008, 06:10 PM

Originally posted by kabbott
Caen are holding Bordeaux 0:0 at H.T.

Final score:
Bordeaux 2:1 Caen

which brings them to within 4 pts of Lyon. Could be a gripping end to the season after all.

BB Bob

13-04-2008, 06:41 PM

Game on. A double from cavenaghi and a late pen for Caen.

Time for les niçois to add to the fun tonight (but I'm not holding my breath, as you need to score to win football games!)

BB Bob

13-04-2008, 07:48 PM

Ho Ho Ho. Baky Koné! 1-0 to Nice at HT.

GodstoneEagle

13-04-2008, 08:18 PM

koné is going to leave, non?

kabbott

13-04-2008, 08:24 PM

PSG have equalised 1:1 P.Luyindula.

BB Bob

13-04-2008, 08:25 PM

There was a piece today in l'equipe saying he was probably going to stay now, but who knows. Lloris off, Ederson off, balmont off. Echouafni and laslandes nearer 40 than 30. Could be a long season next year!

kabbott

13-04-2008, 08:55 PM

Incroyable fin de match. PSG dans le gros caca!!!

PSG 2:3 OGC Nice

PSG went 2:1 up through Pauleta with 15 minutes to go only for Koné and then Ederson to score in the final minutes, thus hammering another nail in PSG's coffin. Canal +'s Sunday match has lived up to its reputation again.

This is going to make the Carquefou (Div5) v PSG Coupe de France match something special midweek. Can't wait for that!

BB Bob

13-04-2008, 08:59 PM

You're sunday night matches lately have been fantastic! And what a great result for Nice! Is that them back to 5th?

kabbott

13-04-2008, 09:18 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
You're sunday night matches lately have been fantastic! And what a great result for Nice! Is that them back to 5th?

6th actually sandwiched between St. Etienne (5th) and Le Mans (7th) with all three on 47 pts a fair few behind Nancy, who, I think, have 55pts.

I'll try and do something on potential Championnat forwards on the move, i.e. Gomis, Koné and Elmander.

Latvian Eagle

13-04-2008, 10:35 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
There was a piece today in l'equipe saying he was probably going to stay now, but who knows. Lloris off, Ederson off, balmont off. Echouafni and laslandes nearer 40 than 30. Could be a long season next year!

Where's Lloris off to!? I wonder if Carasso will stay at Marseille now he seems to have lost his place to Mandanda. I don't doubt Cedric would have been at least knocking on the door for a place in the national team at some point if it wasn't for his injury! Now it could be Steve the Man going to the Euros.

kabbott

14-04-2008, 07:13 AM

Originally posted by Latvian Eagle
Where's Lloris off to!? I wonder if Carasso will stay at Marseille now he seems to have lost his place to Mandanda. I don't doubt Cedric would have been at least knocking on the door for a place in the national team at some point if it wasn't for his injury! Now it could be Steve the Man going to the Euros.

Lloris is being tipped to go to Lyon to take over from Coupet who's probably got another season in him yet. Carasso will probably be off but he hasn't really been mentioned at all this season. Let's not forget that Steve the Man Mandanda is only on loan at Marseille, for the time being, although there is a clause in the loan contract which will allow them to buy him at the end of the season. It is a shame for Carasso since last year he'd got his act together- he'd lost a load of weight and was playing quite consistently. It looks as if Mandanda will be going to the European Championship as third choice keeper, although his performances this year have been much better than Landreau's, who's having a mare this year at PSG. Who isn't?

BB Bob

14-04-2008, 04:07 PM

Good piece on L1 salaries. Top 20 are here:-

Cissé Marseille €4.8m
Pauleta PSG €4.6m
Juninho Lyon €4.5m
Cris Lyon €4.2m
Rothen PSG €4.0m
Grosso Lyon €3.9m
Govou Lyon €3.8m
Benzema Lyon €3.7m
Coupet Lyon €3.6m
Yespes PSG €3.4m
Fred Lyon €3.2m
Keita Lyon €3.1m
Micoud Bordeaux €3.0m
Toulalan Lyon €2.5m
Squillaci Lyon €2.5m
BoumsongLyon €2.5m
Kallstrom Lyon €2.5m
Bernardi Monaco €2.4m
Givet Marseille €2.3m
Réveillère Lyon €2.2m

To put them into some context

Beckham LA Galaxy €31m
Ronaldhin Barcelona €24.1m
Messi Barcelona €23m
Ronaldo Man U €19.5m
Henry Barcelona €16.8m

I think you can see why there is such an exodus from the Championnat. Nasri, Niang and Valbuena must be choking on their Bouillabaises....

kabbott

14-04-2008, 06:30 PM

I seem to remember there was a top 50 European league salaries in which Cissé, Pauleta, Juninho and Govou figured. I think there's a thread on this. This year then Cris and Rothen must have had healthy wage rises. I must admit Grosso is a very lucky man considering his limited talent, in my opinion. Benzema, too, has seen his wages rocket in the last 12 months, and understandably so.

limited_edition

14-04-2008, 07:15 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
I think you can see why there is such an exodus from the Championnat. Nasri, Niang and Valbuena must be choking on their Bouillabaises.... What a finish by Nasri at the weekend.

Nice to see PSG screw up late on. Relegation beckons. :D

BB Bob

14-04-2008, 08:17 PM

I've not seen the weekends highlights yet, but I love watching Nasri play. But maybe I'm biased. Lyon seem so much better at holding on to their talent and l'OM seem to let it slip through their fingers...

Domenech must love it though. The young french talent - benzema, ben arfa, nasri (tous algeriens bien sur) are enough to get anyones pulse racing. Add in govou and the guy at rennes whose name escapes me (jimmy Briand - I rmembered) and it's looking good. Mansdanda and Lloris in goal, and now we are cooking.

While on the subject of Lloris- and sorry for my Gym bias - can we just have a moments thought for him. His mother died 10 days ago and yet he has put in two first class performances - l'equipe player of the week last week. Top bloke. No winging to the press, no saying how he should be at a better club, no excuses. Top.

kabbott

14-04-2008, 08:41 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
I've not seen the weekends highlights yet, but I love watching Nasri play. But maybe I'm biased. Lyon seem so much better at holding on to their talent and l'OM seem to let it slip through their fingers...

Domenech must love it though. The young french talent - benzema, ben arfa, nasri (tous algeriens bien sur) are enough to get anyones pulse racing. Add in govou and the guy at rennes whose name escapes me (jimmy Briand - I rmembered) and it's looking good. Mansdanda and Lloris in goal, and now we are cooking.

While on the subject of Lloris- and sorry for my Gym bias - can we just have a moments thought for him. His mother died 10 days ago and yet he has put in two first class performances - l'equipe player of the week last week. Top bloke. No winging to the press, no saying how he should be at a better club, no excuses. Top.

Sorry to hear about that. I was actually back in Blighty last week and haven't got round to reading the pile of last week's Equipes that I'd ordered. I do know he had a good game the other day.

kabbott

15-04-2008, 05:47 PM

Two of the Coupe de France quarter-finals tonight. First one up is Amiens(L2) v Dijon(L2). Oops, in fact it's almost over already, and second up is Lyon(L1) v Metz(L2) autrement dit top v bottom. But this is far from being a foregone conclusion. Lyon used to be a real cup team back in the 60s and 70s but haven't actually won it since 1973. In recent history they've even had one or two embarrassing defeats. So the question is will be up for this? President Aulas has been putting pressure on Reggie Perrin in the press over the past two or three days. Juninho may well be rested for the next Ligue game against Strasbourg, and the burning question is, will Reggie give Ben Arfa a run-out? It's on Eurosport France 20.45. Bon match!

BB Bob

15-04-2008, 05:53 PM

Bonne chance ce soir! I want to see a lyons v bordeaux final as a fitting finale to the season. Or carquefou, obviously!!

kabbott

15-04-2008, 06:18 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Bonne chance ce soir! I want to see a lyons v bordeaux final as a fitting finale to the season. Or carquefou, obviously!!

Amiens have just beaten Dijon1:0 with a goal in the 87th minute. Next question how am I going to get Madame off the telly tonight so I can settle down to watch the match?

BB Bob

15-04-2008, 08:15 PM

A bit of HT L2 action to keep you all amused:-

Monday, April 14, 2008
20:30 Nantes 3 - 0 Boulogne
-› Tuesday, April 15, 2008
20:00 Brest 1 - 0 Montpellier
20:00 Clermont 3 - 3 Guingamp
20:00 Grenoble 3 - 1 Niort
20:00 Gueugnon 2 - 1 Angers
20:00 Libourne-St Seurin 1 - 2 Ajaccio
20:00 Reims 2 - 0 Châteauroux

Sounds like fun at Clermont, but the result doesn't suit anyone, really.. Grenoble move into the top3 with Troyes playing next week

Ligue 2 Orange P W D L GD Pts
1 Le Havre 32 20 9 3 +29 69
2 Nantes 33 19 9 5 +25 66
3 Grenoble 33 15 10 8 +12 55

4 Troyes 32 15 9 8 +9 54
5 Clermont 33 12 13 8 +8 49
6 Sedan 32 12 11 9 +4 47
7 Montpellier 33 12 10 11 +6 46
8 Angers 33 12 10 11 +2 46
9 Ajaccio 33 12 10 11 -5 46
10 Brest 33 12 10 11 -5 46
11 Bastia 32 13 7 12 +6 45
12 Guingamp 33 10 13 10 +1 43
13 Reims 33 11 7 15 -7 40
14 Boulogne 33 11 6 16 -13 39
15 Amiens 32 9 10 13 -4 37
16 Châteauroux 33 9 10 14 -9 37
17 Niort 33 9 7 17 -12 34

18 Dijon 32 7 13 12 -16 34
19 Libourne St Seurin 33 7 9 17 -12 30
20 Gueugnon 33 3 11 19 -19 20

Martouf

15-04-2008, 08:25 PM

I support AJ Auxerre, but this season is the worst that I have never known. :(

kabbott

15-04-2008, 09:07 PM

Blimey, I don't want any more of them. Lyon have scraped through by the skin of their teeth, beating a valiant Metz team by the narrowest of margins 1:0. Lyon could have killed the match in the first half and also had a header from Cris which rattled the crossbar in the 2nd half, but Metz had a couple of golden chances in the final minutes, but Lyon just held on. By the way goal from Benzema, who else?

BB Bob

15-04-2008, 09:14 PM

I'm sorry to hear that! I suppose I can say four things

1. At least youre not a PSG fan!

2. Nantes fans must have felt worse last year

3. You're not in the bottom 3

4. Nice were just as sh*te this time last year!

BB Bob

15-04-2008, 09:17 PM

Originally posted by kabbott
Blimey, I don't want any more of them. Lyon have scraped through by the skin of their teeth, beating a valiant Metz team by the narrowest of margins 1:0. Lyon could have killed the match in the first half and also had a header from Cris which rattled the crossbar in the 2nd half, but Metz had a couple of golden chances in the final minutes, but Lyon just held on. By the way goal from Benzema, who else?

Did he play Ben Arfa?

BB Bob

15-04-2008, 09:20 PM

oh I meant to say! What in the wide wide world of sport has been going in L1.. David Ginola would not be happy! First of all, Jerome Rothen at PSG has a short back and sides and then Cavenaghi looks like he has an argument with the recruiting officer at the local Foreign Legion barracks. Blimey! Severe or what! Who's next?

kabbott

15-04-2008, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Did he play Ben Arfa?

No, he didn't. He played Keita, Benzema and Fred. Benzema's never too hapy having to play out on the left even though he's quite free to drift into the middle. Juninho also played. He had a good first half and then disappeared. I must admit though, the players don't look as if they're enjoying themselves at the moment. Ben Arfa didn't even come on. I hope this isn' t going to make him think of crossing the Channel and popping in to see old Arsène for a year or two. Not yet anyway.

BB Bob

16-04-2008, 03:24 PM

Meanwhile in a football league a long, long way away.....the latest results from the National

vendredi 11 avril 2008
20h00 Tours FC (2) 3-0 Sète (4)
Laval (3) 2-2 Martigues (17)
Istres (8) 1-2 Romorantin (19)
Créteil (13) 0-1 Calais (15)
samedi 12 avril 2008
18h00 à Villemomble (93) Villemomble (16) 0-1 Louhans-Cuiseaux (18)
19h30 Vannes OC (1) 0-0 Paris FC (7)
20h00 Nîmes (5) 2-1 Arles (11)
Cherbourg (6) 1-1 Entente SSG (9)
Beauvais (10) 1-1 Cannes (14)
Rodez (12) 1-2 Pau (20)

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Vannes OC 64 33 19 7 7 43 26 17
2 Tours FC 59 33 17 8 8 48 26 22
3 Laval 54 33 13 15 5 46 23 23

4 Nîmes 53 33 14 11 8 41 34 7
5 Sète 51 33 13 12 8 34 24 10
6 Cherbourg 51 33 14 9 10 38 33 5
7 Paris FC 50 33 12 14 7 48 41 7
8 Istres 48 33 13 9 11 36 33 3
9 Entente SSG 44 33 13 5 15 39 45 -6
10 Beauvais 43 33 11 10 12 39 40 -1
11 Arles 42 33 9 15 9 27 31 -4
12 Rodez 42 33 12 6 15 34 39 -5
13 Créteil 38 33 8 14 11 34 33 1
14 Cannes 38 33 9 14 10 35 40 -5
15 Calais 37 33 8 13 12 35 38 -3
16 Louhans-Cuiseaux 35 33 9 8 16 36 54 -18

17 Villemomble 34 33 7 13 13 23 33 -10
18 Romorantin 34 33 8 10 15 30 41 -11
19 Martigues 33 33 7 12 14 31 42 -11
20 Pau 32 33 9 5 19 31 52 -21

Pénalités :
Cannes : -3 points

Les crocodiles of Nimes are making a late push for promotion! Villemomble fighting hard to avoid the drop, kabbott!

BB Bob

16-04-2008, 06:39 PM

http://img.lequipe.fr/Xml/Media/160408_blanc.jpg

Oh dear. 0-0 after full time, 0-0 after extra time, 4-3 to Sedan after penalties. No dream final this season.

Allez Carquefou!

BB Bob

16-04-2008, 09:09 PM

Dommage. Pauleta - 76mins (or so) Carquefou 0 PSG 1

BB Bob

18-04-2008, 10:36 AM

Cup draw keeps Big Two apart
The two remaining Ligue 1 sides in the last four of the French Cup, Lyon and PSG, have been kept apart by the draw for the semi-finals. Lyon will be home to Sedan, while PSG go to Amiens.
It's a tough assignment for both the Ligue 2 sides, especially for Sedan, who gave a magnificent performance to survive for a 0-0 draw away to second-placed Bordeaux and winning 4-3 on penalties - only to find themselves with a task one notch tougher still.

Only one side in France is above Bordeaux in the league ladder and that's Lyon, where talk of a League and Cup double is very much in the air.

Facing PSG is almost a local derby for town-owned Amiens, little more than an hour north of Paris. Their superb state-of-the-art 12,000-seat Stade de la Licorne is sure to be bursting at the seams for a match which will be a welcome distraction from their lingering worries about relegation.

One of the matches will be on Tuesday 6 May, the other on Wednesday 7 May.

BB Bob

18-04-2008, 10:37 AM

Saturday preview: Lens v Sochaux
Aruna Dindane (pictured) will need to improve on his performance last week if Lens are to get anything out of their crucial clash at home to Francis Gillot's visitors.

Ligue 1, Matchday 34
LENS v SOCHAUX (Stade Felix-Bollaert)
Saturday, April 19, 2008 (4.10pm kick-off UK time)

When Lens meet Sochaux in Saturday afternoon’s early kick-off at Stade Felix-Bollaert, Francis Gillot may allow himself a rueful smile on the visiting bench.

Gillot, who has masterminded a remarkable revival since taking over at Sochaux last December, was in charge of Lens last season, but left the club over the summer after the Sang et Or fell from runners-up spot behind Lyon to outside the Champions League places during the final two months of the campaign. The highly-regarded Gillot found himself off the managerial merry-go-round for a couple of months but he was the man Sochaux president Jean-Claude Plessis turned to when Sochaux’s fortunes needed reviving following a disastrous first-half of 2007-08 that left les Doubistes five points from safety. Under Gillot’s guidance Sochaux are now 14th, having had the best run of results in 2008 of any club bar top two Lyon and Bordeaux. In contrast, Lens have floundered since Gillot’s departure, with Guy Roux stepping into the managerial hotseat but then quitting within two months, and Jean-Pierre Papin failing to lift the club out of the doldrums since August, despite the appointment of sporting director Daniel Leclercq to work alongside him since January.

There’s no doubt which of the benches will be the happier going into the game, then – but Lens have played well in recent weeks without getting the points they’ve deserved. Aside from their cruel injury-time defeat to PSG in the Coupe de la Ligue final three weeks ago, they have played some excellent attacking football in the league but lacked a clinical touch in front of goal. Last weekend was typical – their dominated their match at Lorient but Lens striker Aruna Dindane saw three chances saved by inspired Lorient goalkeeper Fabien Audard – and then Lorient striker Rafik Saifi struck a late winner against the run of play to ensure Lens stay mired in trouble.

Of only Lens had Mevlut Erding, Sochaux’s nine-goal top scorer. The Turkey international has been in excellent form this season, although there are other danger men up front, too – Sebastien Grax came off the bench to net the equaliser in Sochaux’s 1-1 draw with St Etienne last weekend while Nicolas Maurice-Belay has produced a series of superb performances down the left flank and is the man Lens will have to keep quiet to cut off the supply line to the strikers. Lens captain and centre-half Hilton is suspended, however, which just makes the hosts’ job harder.

BB Bob

18-04-2008, 10:38 AM

Sunday preview: Toulouse v Bordeaux
Elie Baup (pictured) faces his former club but there's no room for sentiment as Toulouse look to pull away from the relegation zone against second-placed visitors.

Ligue 1, Matchday 34
TOULOUSE v BORDEAUX (Stadium Municipal)
Sunday, April 20, 2008 (5pm kick-off UK time)

Toulouse meet Bordeaux with more than just local pride at stake in the south-west derby.

This game is crucial for both sides. For Toulouse, because they are just three points out of relegation trouble but want to maintain their positive momentum after their impressive 2-0 win at Monaco last weekend; and for Brodeaux because their 2-1 home win over Caen last weekend, coupled with Lyon's unexpected 1-1 draw at home to Rennes, means theb gap is down to four points at the top, putting les Girondins within striking distance of the leaders.

However, Toulouse's chances of getting something against one of the best sides in France have certainly been enhanced by the fact Johan Elmander finally got on the scoresheet last weekend. When the Sweden international netted Toulouse's second goal in the win over Monaco – his 11th of the season – it was the first time he had found the net since December 15. His barren run in front of goal is the main reason why Toulouse have fallen down the table, since Elie Baup's side are heavily reliant on their outstanding target man for victories. Playmaker Achille Emana has weighed in with goals – he has seven for the season – but Elmander is easily their most important player.

Bordeaux's Fernando Cavenaghi – sporting a new shaven haircut - scored both goals in his side's 2-1 win over Caen last weekend to take his tally to 14 in 19 games. He is now only three goals short of Ligue 1's leading scorer Karim Benzema of Lyon, who has 17 in 31 games. Bordeaux boss Laurent Blanc may be concerned that his side are overly-reliant on their 24-year-old Argentinian at the moment, because fellow strikers Marouane Chamakh (his usual partner) and David Bellion (used mainly from the bench these days) are hardly weighing in with goals. Thankfully the midfield trio of Fernando, Alou Diarra and Wendel have been more productive – they've netted 17 between them this season, with the first two both getting on the scoresheet in recent weeks.

It promises to be an emotional occasion for Toulouse boss Baup. He was Bordeaux manager for nearly six years from 1998 to 2003 and have fond memories of his time there – he was the last manager to lead les Girondins to the Ligue 1 title when they clinched the crown in dramatic style ahead of Marseille on the final day in 1999. Will Blanc succeed him this year. This match will go a long way towards answering that question.

BB Bob

19-04-2008, 08:00 PM

Tonights results:-

samedi 19 avril 2008
17h10 Lens (17) 3-2 Sochaux (13) Confrontations
20h00 Strasbourg (19) 1-2 Lyon (1) Confrontations
Nancy (4) 1-1 Le Mans (7) Confrontations
Saint-Etienne (5) 1-0 Lorient (9) Confrontations
Nice (6) 0-2 Monaco (14) Confrontations
Rennes (10) 1-0 Valenciennes (11) Confrontations
Caen (12) 3-0 Paris-SG (18) Confrontations
Auxerre (15) 0-0 Metz (20) Confrontations

Merde alors! PSG are in the brown smelly stuff for sure...

BB Bob

20-04-2008, 08:30 AM

Here's the table ahead of todays games

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Lyon 71 34 22 5 7 68 34 34
2 Bordeaux 64 33 19 7 7 58 35 23

3 Nancy 56 34 14 14 6 38 25 13

4 Marseille 55 33 15 10 8 49 35 14

5 Saint-Etienne 50 34 14 8 12 41 33 8
6 Rennes 48 34 13 9 12 37 39 -2
7 Le Mans 48 34 13 9 12 40 43 -3
8 Nice 47 34 11 14 9 30 28 2
9 Lille 46 33 10 16 7 36 27 9
10 Lorient 46 34 11 13 10 28 32 -4
11 Caen 46 34 12 10 12 39 45 -6
12 Valenciennes 44 34 12 8 14 39 33 6
13 Monaco 43 34 12 7 15 35 41 -6
14 Sochaux 42 34 10 12 12 32 38 -6
15 Auxerre 41 34 11 8 15 29 43 -14
16 Toulouse 38 33 8 14 11 30 34 -4
17 Lens 38 34 9 11 14 38 45 -7

18 Paris-SG 35 34 8 11 15 30 41 -11
- Strasbourg 35 34 9 8 17 30 41 -11
20 Metz 20 34 4 8 22 23 58 -35

A big win for Lens last night against an in-form Sochaux leaves Paris looking cut off. It says it all that the Japanese winger from Le Mans, Matsui, has decided to join St Etienne rather than PSG as he wants to join a more successful club!

Lens have left the door open for Marseille tonight to cement 3rd. And kabbott will be pleased that Lyons have put their nerves behind them - not many more points needed now!

The Omen

20-04-2008, 04:05 PM

Can Paris really go down? Possibly after doing a cup double!

My mate is a big Paris fan and is gutted. He says it would be like Liverpool getting relegated in the Prem. Personally, I really hpe it happens.

BB Bob

20-04-2008, 07:07 PM

There's not much precendent for a club in their position going down, particularly if they win both cups. But almost everyone else in France outside Paris would love it!(including me!)

BB Bob

20-04-2008, 07:08 PM

Dodgy, dodgy Bordeaux just manage to stay in touch...

A Johan Micoud goal in injury-time hands Bordeaux a precious win in their chase for the title.
Ligue 1, Matchday 34
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Stadium Toulouse
Toulouse 0

Bordeaux 1
Micoud 90 (+2)

Match Stats

Bordeaux stole a 1-0 victory against a battling Toulouse in the Garonne derby thanks to a 92nd winner – a result which does no favours to the home side.

Johan Micoud scored in the second minute of injury-time against the run of play to stun Toulouse who had dominated the match in terrible conditions. With four games of the season left, Bordeaux now lie four points behind leaders Lyon while Toulouse sit just three points above the drop zone.

Toulouse’s 2-0 win over Monaco last weekend had given Elie Baup’s side some precious breathing room over their relegation rivals PSG, Lens and Strasbourg. But with Bordeaux still hopeful of catching Lyon at the top, le Téfécé could not expect any favours from their Garonne neighbours.

Played under streaming rain, the game got off to a sluggish start but it was the hosts who enjoyed the majority of possession. And had it not been for two smart saves from Ulrich Ramé on 11 and 36 minuets from Johan Elmander and Jeremy Mathieu respectively then the home side could have taken a strong lead into the break.

Soon after the restart Franck Jurietti nearly put into his own net before Ramé again denied Elmander as Toulouse looked for the killer blow.

However, as the conditions deteriorated both sides seemed content to settle for the point. That was until the 92nd minute when Bordeaux’s veteran midfielder Micoud slotted home despite the close attentions of Toulouse defender Paulo Cesar.

BB Bob

20-04-2008, 07:09 PM

Saturdays match reports...

Ligue 1, Matchday 34

Saturday 19 April 2008

Strasbourg 1
Renteria 21

Lyon 2
Bodmer 62, Grosso 68

>> Match Stats

Lyon came from behind thanks to two goals in the second-half to beat 10-man Strasbourg 2-1 and keep their title bid on track.

Mathieu Bodmer and Fabio Grosso – with his first Ligue 1 goal for the club – were the unlikely scorers as Alain Perrin's side survived a first-half scare to come away with three points. The result leaves them seven points clear of second-placed Bordeaux, who travel to Toulouse for the south-west derby on Sunday evening.

This was Strasbourg's seventh straight defeat and leaves their chances of avoiding relegation look increasingly slim. They lie 19th on 35 points, three points from safety and with inferior goal difference to most of their rivals.

Yet the hosts made the perfect start when Wason Renteria put them ahead. |The goal came about when midfielder Pascal Johansen latched on to a poorly-cleared corner and his cross was headed home by the Colombia international for his ninth goal of the season.

The turning point came just before half-time when Strasbourg winger Eric Mouloungui was sent off for receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Grosso. That handed Lyon the initiative in the second-half, and the champions accepted.

They had already hit the post via Hatem Ben Arfa before Bodmer equalised 17 minutes after the restart. It was the big midfielder's sixth goal of the season as he headed home a Kader Keita corner. Six minutes later Lyon went ahead – and Keita was the provider from a corner again, this time Grosso rising highest to nod home. Lyon held on to take a massive step towards the title.

Nancy 1
Fortune 68

Le Mans 1
Le Tallec 51

Match Stats

Nancy's Champions League hopes suffered a blow as they drew 1-1 against Le Mans at Stade Marcel-Picot.

Pablo Correa's hosts needed a win to pile the pressure on Marseille before their rivals' match against Lille on Sunday but were unable to take second-half chances. As a result they have given Marseille the opportunity to move two points clear into third place should l'OM win tomorrow.

It could have been worse for Nancy as Le Mans took the lead. Following a dour first-half in which neither side created clear opportunities, the visitors struck six minutes after the restart following a quick break. Jean Calve's through pass found Anthony Le Tallec and the former Liverpool striker finished for his second goal in as many games.

Nancy knew they had to improve and did so, getting their reward when Marc-Antoine Fortune equalised 17 minutes later. The big centre-forward rose to head home David Sauget's cross to claim his fifth Ligue 1 goal of the season.

Nancy remain unbeaten at home this season – 12 wins and five draws – but a point here may eventually not be enough in their quest to qualify for Europe's premier club competition for the first time in their history.

St Etienne 1
Jallet 51 (own goal)

Lorient 0

Match Stats

St Etienne stay fifth in Ligue 1 after a hard-fought win over Lorient at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. The victory, their fourth in a six-match unbeaten run, maintains their hopes of European football next season.

Given Lorient's abysmal away record, just two wins on the road in 16 attempts, it was little surprise that the first half was a dour affair during which both goalkeepers were mere spectators. But after stern words from the manager, the home side were first out of the blocks in the second period and within seconds of the restart livewire striker Bafetimbi Gomis almost opened the scoring. His deft lob just drifted over the crossbar with goalkeeper Fabien Audard well beaten.

They'd escaped this time, but Lorient's relief was short-lived; just moments later St Etienne make the breakthrough, and yet again it was Gomis who provided the spark.

The 22-year-old dribbled past five Lorient players before feeding Dimitri Payet on the right. His shot was fumbled by Audard and the unfortunate Christophe Jallet could only help the ball into his own net.

The remainder of the match was a gritty contest with St Etienne battling to preserve three points and Lorient pushing for one, but the slender advantage was maintained and St Etienne's excellent run continues.

Nice 0

Monaco 2
Meriem 35, Almiron 90

Match Stats

Despite finishing with only nine men, Monaco came out on top in a keenly contested derby match on the Cote d'Azur. A goal in either half proved sufficient to see off the challenge of Nice at Stade du Ray.

In a first half of few opportunities it was the case of one shot, one goal for the visitors. The decisive moment came 10 minutes before the break; a free kick in the middle of the pitch, brilliantly taken by Brazilian midfielder Nene, bisected the centre of the Nice defence and was cleanly finished by Camel Meriem. It was the 28-year-old's first goal of the season.

Nice made a real game of it in the second half, but when excellent efforts from Cyril Rool and David Hellebuyck failed to bring the home side level, they might have suspected it was not to be their night. Even when defender Adriano and substitute Nikola Pokrivac were both sent off in the last 10 minutes, Nice were unable to capitalise. In fact, it was Monaco who managed a second goal in the dying moments, Sergio Almiron profiting from a great cross from the substitute Ignacio Gonzalez.

Rennes 1
Wiltord 77

Valenciennes 0

Match Stats

Rennes climb to sixth in the table after a late goal from former Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord killed off the spirited challenge of Valenciennes at Stade de la route de Lorient.

Having started the day in 10th, just a place above Valenciennes, this victory has lifted Guy Lacombe's side right back into European contention. Jerome Leroy was starting his 300th game in Ligue 1, but it was the talismanic figure of Steve Savidan who looked most likely to open the scoring. Twice in the opening exchanges the former binman came close to collecting a 13th goal of the season as Valenciennes pressed hard for the opening goal.

For Rennes, Jimmy Briand went close and Mickael Pagis had a goal disallowed for offside, but with Nicolas Penneteau in fine form, there was no way through for the home side. Savidan had another good effort in the second half, but when he was substituted with 20 minutes to go, Valenciennes' goal threat disappeared with him.

That played into the hands of Rennes, and with 13 minutes to go, the master poacher Wiltord made them pay, tapping in after Penneteau spilled a Fabien Lemoine shot.

Caen 3
Deroin 52, Lemaitre 75, Gouffran 89

PSG 0

Match Stats

Paris Saint-Germain's nightmare season in Ligue 1 continues, with Paul Le Guen's ailing side looking prime candidates for relegation after a hapless 2-0 defeat at Caen. With Lens winning earlier in the day, PSG are now three points adrift in 18th.

The visitors, without injured winger Jerome Rothen, laboured from the start of the match and but for the brilliance of Mickael Landreau in goal would have gone behind as early as the eighth minute. A superb cross from Yoan Gouffran eluded the PSG centre-backs and Tunisia forward Jemaa was somehow repelled by the France international.

With his defenders all at sea, Landreau was called upon time and time again; fortunately for the beleaguered Le Guen, his goalkeeper was equal to the task, foiling Gregory Leca, Gouffran and Gregory Proment in the first half alone. But try as he might, Landreau was powerless to prevent Caen taking a deserved lead early in the second half. Juan Eduardo Eluchans' pinpoint cross found Anthony Deroin and Caen's captain made no mistake from close range.

Strangely, though, the goal seemed to spark PSG into life and the visitors mounted a spirited attempt to get back into the match. Sylvain Armand had a good effort saved, Pauleta had a goal disallowed for offside and the entire team had a go at Caen. But having failed to score, PSG were always vulnerable, and with 15 minutes to go, any hopes of taking something from the match were extinguished when a Gregory Proment corner was headed in by Reynald Lemaitre. A third from Gouffran late on capped a miserable night for the visitors.

Lens 3
Coulibaly 6, Dindane 51, 70

Sochaux 2
Erding 49, Brechet 79

Match Stats

Lens earned a potentially vital win in their battle against relegation with a thrilling five-goal victory over Sochaux in Saturday afternoon's early kick-off.

Jean-Pierre Papin's hosts showed vigour and determination – and played some excellent football to hold off a late fightback from the visitors.

Star of the show was Ivory Coast striker Aruna Dindane, who scored two goals to make up for a hatful of missed chances in Lens' 1-0 defeat at Lorient last weekend.

But it was defender Adama Coulibaly who set the Sang et Or on route to victory with his sixth-minute opening header, when he forced home Olivier Monterrubio's corner. Sochaux came storming back, however – and twice hit the woodwork before the break when Jeremie Brechet headed a Stephane Dalmat cross against the bar, and then former Marseille, PSG and Spurs midfielder Dalmat saw his excellent shot come back off a post.

But Sochaux got what they deserved with an equaliser early in the first-half. It came courtesy of the prolific Turkey international Mevlut Erding – who had come on as a substitute for defender Bojan Jokic in the first-half – when he played a glorious one-two with fellow striker Kandia Traore to net his 10th Ligue 1 goal of the season. Sochaux's joy lasted just two minutes, though, as Dindane got on the end of a Monterrubio cross, drifted past two defenders and finished coolly to re-establish Lens' lead in spectacular fashion on 51 minutes. He got his second and Lens' third at the far post following Monterrubio's third assist of the game 20 minutes from time.

Brechet pulled a goal back with a header 11 minutes time and Lens suffered a few late scares but held on for a crucial victory.

Auxerre 0

Metz 0

Match Stats

Auxerre missed a vital opportunity to end their relegation worries when they could only draw 0-0 at home to Metz.

The visitors – whose 2-1 defeat at home to Marseille last weekend condemned them to Ligue 2 next season – played spirited football and might have come away with all three points.

The home side created better chances in the first-half but came up against an excellent goalkeeper in Christophe Marichez and Yvon Pouliquen's Metz grew in confidence after the break. Teenage striker Rudy Gestede was the main danger man – he twice found himself in dangerous positions but was unable to hit the target after some neat skill.

Auxerre finally threatened against in the final five minutes as 11-goal top scorer Daniel Niculae found space in the penalty area but Marichez magnificently turned away his powerful header, which was the last of Auxerre's rare opportunities to claim the win.

The result leaves Auxerre in 15th place on 41pts, six points clear of the relegation zone with four games to go.

BB Bob

20-04-2008, 08:51 PM

Oh dear. More wheels fall off more wagons.

Marseille (3) 1 - 3 Lille (8)
Niang (12e) Mirallas (37e ,40e)
Makoun (68e)

BB Bob

20-04-2008, 09:39 PM

Ligue 1, Matchday 34
Sunday, April 20
Stade Vélodrome
Marseille 1
Niang 13

Lille 3
Mirallas 37, 40, 67

Match Stats

Marseille missed the chance to move into third following a 3-1 home defeat to Lille. The loss puts a dent in OM’s hopes of claiming a UEFA Champions League spot while Claude Puel men now move into sixth, six points behind their hosts.

Mamadou Niang had put his side in front early on only for Belgian striker Kevin Mirallas to score a first-half brace and stun the home side into submission. Jean Makoun added a third in the second-half to put the result beyond doubt.

Like the day’s earlier Ligue 1 encounter at Toulouse, the weather played havoc with rain lashing down from kick-off. Nevertheless, Marseille got off to the perfect start with a goal after just 13 minutes, Niang heading home a perfect Samir Nasri cross.

An Adil Rami block stopped the hosts extending their lead before two quick fire goals tore up the Vélodrome script. Picking up the ball a long through ball Jean Makoun drew out Steve Mandanda before presenting Mirallas with an easy tap-in for 1-1.

Three minutes later and Mandanda was at fault as he fumbled Obraniak’s shot into the path of a delighted Mirallas who made no mistake for his second.

Bastos came close to making tit hree and four in the dying moments of the half only for his efforts to fly narrowly wide.

Four minutes into the second-half and Niang passed by the chance to bring his team level when his shot found the side-netting. The miss proved decisive as, on 67 minutes, a Cabaye feint let in Makoun for Lille’s third.

As full-time approached Obraniak nearly made it four but his miss spared OM’s blushes. And with no time to score a consolation, the Marseille players left the field with the whistles of their fans ringing in their ears.

The loss signals Marseille’s fourth of the season with Lille registering their fifth win of 2007/08 on the road.

BB Bob

20-04-2008, 09:39 PM

Ligue 1 Orange P W D L GD Pts
1 Lyon 34 22 5 7 +34 71
2 Bordeaux 34 20 7 7 +24 67

3 Nancy 34 14 14 6 +13 56

4 Marseille 34 15 10 9 +12 55
5 Saint Etienne 34 14 8 12 +8 50
6 Lille 34 11 16 7 +11 49
7 Rennes 34 13 9 12 -2 48
8 Le Mans 34 13 9 12 -3 48
9 Nice 34 11 14 9 +2 47
10 Lorient 34 11 13 10 -4 46
11 Caen 34 12 10 12 -6 46
12 Valenciennes 34 12 8 14 +6 44
13 Monaco 34 12 7 15 -6 43
14 Sochaux 34 10 12 12 -6 42
15 Auxerre 34 11 8 15 -14 41
16 Toulouse 34 8 14 12 -5 38
17 Lens 34 9 11 14 -7 38

18 Paris SG 34 8 11 15 -11 35
19 Strasbourg 34 9 8 17 -11 35
20 Metz 34 4 8 22 -35 20

GodstoneEagle

21-04-2008, 01:28 AM

good young player mirallas, him and eden hazard have huge potential

BB Bob

21-04-2008, 07:16 AM

Doesn't look like a whole heap pf fun was had in L2 at the weekend!

vendredi 18 avril 2008
20h00 Châteauroux (16) 0-0 Le Havre (1)
Niort (17) 0-0 Troyes (4)
Amiens (15) 0-0 Clermont Foot (5)
AC Ajaccio (9) 2-0 Gueugnon (20)
Reims (13) 0-0 Brest (10)
Guingamp (12) 1-1 Libourne/Saint-Seurin (19)
Boulogne-sur-Mer (14) 0-1 Dijon (18)
20h30 Montpellier (7) 0-1 Grenoble (3)
samedi 19 avril 2008
20h00 Sedan (6) 0-0 Bastia (11)
lundi 21 avril 2008
20h30 Angers (8) - Nantes (2)

Clermont only managed a point, Troyes blew it again allowing Grenoble to tighten their grip on the 3rd promotion spot

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Le Havre 70 33 20 10 3 58 29 29
2 Nantes 66 33 19 9 5 52 27 25
3 Grenoble 58 34 16 10 8 42 28 14

4 Troyes 55 33 15 10 8 42 33 9
5 Clermont Foot 50 34 12 14 8 47 39 8
6 AC Ajaccio 49 34 13 10 11 35 38 -3
7 Sedan 48 33 12 12 9 41 37 4
8 Brest 47 34 12 11 11 32 37 -5
9 Montpellier 46 34 12 10 12 35 30 5
10 Angers 46 33 12 10 11 34 32 2
11 Bastia 44 33 13 8 12 40 34 6
12 Guingamp 44 34 10 14 10 35 34 1
13 Reims 41 34 11 8 15 39 46 -7
14 Boulogne-sur-Mer 39 34 11 6 17 34 48 -14
15 Amiens 38 33 9 11 13 38 42 -4
16 Châteauroux 38 34 9 11 14 29 38 -9
17 Dijon 37 33 8 13 12 27 42 -15

18 Niort 35 34 9 8 17 33 46 -13
19 Libourne/Saint-Seurin 31 34 7 10 17 38 50 -12
20 Gueugnon 20 34 3 11 20 32 53 -21

Pénalités :
Bastia : -3 points

BB Bob

21-04-2008, 01:39 PM

Things getting messy in Paris..

Angry PSG fans graffiti training ground

PARIS, April 20 (Reuters) - Frustrated Paris St Germain supporters painted graffiti at the club's training ground during the night after a 3-0 defeat at Caen left PSG in danger of going down for the first time, witnesses said on Sunday.

'They painted graffiti saying: 'If we go down, we'll shoot you down' and 'PSG in Ligue 2 = Riots',' one of the witnesses told Reuters.

During Saturday's match, a PSG supporter invaded the pitch and started running towards goalkeeper Mickael Landreau before heading back. Media reported that after the match PSG fans tore the windscreen wipers off the team's bus.

PSG lie 18th in the Ligue 1 standings and are three points adrift of Racing Lens, the first club above the drop zone, with four games to play.

Three days ago, Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie banned a group of PSG supporters, the Boulogne Boys, for unfolding a racist banner during last month's League Cup final win over Lens.

BB Bob

21-04-2008, 02:11 PM

Maybe there are changes afoot....

Football: President of relegation-haunted PSG resigns
2008-04-21 09:43 (New York)

PARIS, April 21, 2008 (AFP) - Paris St German president Alain Cayzac saw his offer to resign promptly accepted by the crisis-hit side here on Monday.
PSG, one of the French league's flagship teams, are going through their worst ever crisis with relegation to the second division looming in the coming weeks.
With four league games remaining PSG - who have won the League Cup and are in the French Cup semi-finals - sit 18th in the 20-team first division, just above already-relegated Metz and three points behind fourth from bottom Lens.
The bottom three teams in the French top flight drop to the second tier.
Cayzac's resignation comes a day after a crisis meeting between Cayzac, majority shareholder Sebastien Bazin and coach Paul Le Guen, and two days after PSG's 3-0 defeat to Caen.
On Sunday several PSG players' cars were attacked by irate supporters, some of whom have also spray-painted threats on walls at the club's training ground at Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Le Guen, who arrived at the club before the start of the season following a disastrous spell with Scottish Premier League leaders Rangers, may yet follow suit.
Former PSG coach Luis Fernandez has been touted as a possible replacement for Le Guen, if he leaves the club.
cym-ybl/pgr/jd/pi08

-0- Apr/21/2008 13:40 GMT

-0- Apr/21/2008 13:43 GMT

BB Bob

21-04-2008, 05:39 PM

Good piece in l'Equipe today. Aulas interviewed and could hardly be less complimentary about poor old Reggie. 3 points less than this time last year (but more than the first 4 titles), reasonable run in the champions league (knocked out by probably the best team in the tournament), semis of the cup and it's not enough.

Trouble with the staff and with the team are to blame, it seems, so yet again it'll be all change at the stade gerland. Remi Garde hasn't done his exams yet, so who's left. Surely not paul le guen!?!?! Probably not but deschamps may well take the view that he can't work with the directors, and let's be honest who could blame him. This one could run for a while...

mik59

21-04-2008, 06:13 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Frustrated Paris St Germain supporters painted graffiti at the club's training ground during the night after a 3-0 defeat at Caen left PSG in danger of going down for the first time Ha ha! Well done Caen for guaranteeing another year of top flight football and for humbling the capital's team. Just hope Lens keep their heads above that relegation line.

philsick

21-04-2008, 07:22 PM

Cleremont have blown any chance of promotion now.But glad to see st etienne continuing their good run.

BB Bob

21-04-2008, 08:25 PM

PSGs last games 35pt -11

sam 26/04/08 L1 - 35e journée Paris-SG - Auxerre
sam 03/05/08 L1 - 36e journée Toulouse - Paris-SG
mar 06/05/08 CO - Demi-finales Amiens - Paris-SG
sam 10/05/08 L1 - 37e journée Paris-SG - Saint-Etienne
sam 17/05/08 L1 - 38e journée Sochaux - Paris-SG

Lens 38pt -7

sam 26/04/08 L1 - 35e journée Le Mans - Lens
sam 03/05/08 L1 - 36e journée Lens - Monaco
sam 10/05/08 L1 - 37e journée Lille - Lens
sam 17/05/08 L1 - 38e journée Lens - Bordeaux

Strasbourg 35pt -11

sam 26/04/08 L1 - 35e journée Rennes - Strasbourg
sam 03/05/08 L1 - 36e journée Nancy - Strasbourg
sam 10/05/08 L1 - 37e journée Strasbourg - Caen
sam 17/05/08 L1 - 38e journée Marseille - Strasbourg

Toulouse 38pt -5

sam 26/04/08 L1 - 35e journée Lille - Toulouse
sam 03/05/08 L1 - 36e journée Toulouse - Paris-SG
sam 10/05/08 L1 - 37e journée Rennes - Toulouse
sam 17/05/08 L1 - 38e journée Toulouse - Valenciennes

Given how cr*p I am at predicting results, I would make nothing of this, but I reckon

PSG 5pts
Lens 2pts
Strasbourg 1pt
Toulouse 4pts

Could come down to goal difference. Just as well no-one lost 3-0 at the weekend.....doh!

kabbott

24-04-2008, 09:23 AM

Salut!

Lots of news today. I've also been trying to catch up on last weeks' events having been in Wales on holiday for a week to see my family who have all moved out that way.
1) Nancy are going to the 'commission de discipline' over the match they lost to Bordeaux 2:1 in which the Bordeaux player Johan Micoud got a penalty by throwing himself and a Nancy player to the ground and then claiming he was fouled. Nancy are actually claiming the three points, whereas they could legitimately have have asked for the score to be 0:0 (i.e. 1 extra point for them and 2 less for Bordeaux!) Of course Nancy need every point they can get to be sure of finishing third in La Ligue ahead of Marseille, and, let's not forget, 2 points less for Bordeaux would be very good news for Lyon. Nancy's demands will surely never be met.
2) Paris Saint Germain have named a new president, Simon Tahar, to take over from Alain Cayzac, who resigned after PSG's defeat to Caen at the weekend. Rumour also has it that Paul Le Guen will be sacked if PSG don't win against Auxerre on Saturday afternoon.
3) Another incident of players getting stuck into each other during training and the second one at Monaco this season. This time the sparring partners were the Croatian Jerko Leko and the highly talented Jérémy Menez, who figured in the same U-18 France team as Nasri, Benzema and Ben Arfa.
4) President Aulas of Lyon is doing one of his specials, moaning about having to play a very important Ligue match against Nancy (10th May) only three days after their French Cup semi-final against Sedan (7th May). If a change could be made, the Cup match could be played one day earlier, thus only three days after Lyon's Ligue match against Nice on the 3rd May! He's threatening to send his reserve team to play the semi-final or even not to send a team at all! This is utter bull since it is Aulas's ambition to do the double this season. This is so typical of Aulas. He's such a good president in so many ways but he gives himself a bad reputation by coming out with cr*p like this.

BB Bob

25-04-2008, 01:32 PM

Welcome back from the valleys! Just in time for the lotto!

Paris SG Auxerre HOME WIN
Bordeaux Nice HOME WIN
Le Mans Lens HOME WIN
Lille Toulouse HOME WIN
Lyon Caen HOME WIN
Metz Saint Etienne AWAY WIN
Rennes Strasbourg HOME WIN
Sochaux Lorient HOME WIN
Valenciennes Nancy DRAW
Monaco Marseille AWAY WIN

Bonne chance!

kabbott

25-04-2008, 08:03 PM

Well, we've only got a few more chances to hit the jackpot before the end of the season so ...

Paris SG v Auxerre AWAY WIN (just to see what happens)
Bordeaux Nice AWAY WIN (they won't be able to cope with the pressure)
Le Mans Lens DRAW (but will it be enough?)
Lille Toulouse HOME WIN
Lyon Caen HOME WIN
Metz Saint Etienne DRAW
Rennes Strasbourg DRAW
Sochaux Lorient HOME WIN
Valenciennes Nancy HOME WIN
Monaco Marseille HOME WIN

BB Bob

25-04-2008, 09:12 PM

I guess we find out tomorrow just how much le Guen has lost the PSG team. They will know that if they lose against Auxerre he'll be out Did I read the Jean Fernandez might come back?

A win, though, and they lurch on for another week. Their run-in doesn't look too bad, but their morale is awful. I feel sorry for Pauleta, really, as I'm sure it's not what he had planned for his retirement year...

BB Bob

25-04-2008, 09:16 PM

Tonights L2 results:-

vendredi 25 avril 2008
20h00 Le Havre (1) 2-0 Reims (13)
Troyes (4) 2-2 Boulogne-sur-Mer (14)
Clermont Foot (5) 2-1 Sedan (6)
Bastia (8) 2-3 Châteauroux (16)
Libourne/Saint-Seurin (19) 1-1 Angers (9)
Brest (10) 1-0 Amiens (15)
Dijon (17) 1-0 Guingamp (12)
Gueugnon (20) 1-0 Niort (18)
20h30 Nantes (2) 1-1 Montpellier (11)

Grenoble play on Monday, but Troyes blow up looks almost complete. Nantes make it across the line and will rejoin L1 next year

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Le Havre 74 35 21 11 3 60 29 31
2 Nantes 68 35 19 11 5 53 28 25
3 Grenoble 58 34 16 10 8 42 28 14

4 Troyes 57 35 15 12 8 46 37 9
5 Clermont Foot 53 35 13 14 8 49 40 9
6 Brest 50 35 13 11 11 33 37 -4
7 Sedan 49 35 12 13 10 42 39 3
8 AC Ajaccio 49 34 13 10 11 35 38 -3
9 Angers 48 35 12 12 11 35 33 2
10 Bastia 47 35 14 8 13 43 37 6
11 Montpellier 47 35 12 11 12 36 31 5
12 Guingamp 44 35 10 14 11 35 35 0
13 Châteauroux 41 35 10 11 14 32 40 -8
14 Reims 41 35 11 8 16 39 48 -9
15 Dijon 41 35 9 14 12 30 44 -14
16 Boulogne-sur-Mer 40 35 11 7 17 36 50 -14
17 Amiens 38 35 9 11 15 38 44 -6

18 Niort 35 35 9 8 18 33 47 -14
19 Libourne/Saint-Seurin 32 35 7 11 17 39 51 -12
20 Gueugnon 23 35 4 11 20 33 53 -20

Clermont hanging on, but it's going to need a pretty unlikely set of results!

kabbott

26-04-2008, 08:29 PM

It's been that twitchy bottom kind of a day. I don't know what's worse. Not knowing what's going on at Hull, or watching what's going on at Lyon. Incredible match which could have gone either way. Lyon went 1:0 up through Benzema, then Caen, who played really well, went 1:2 up. At half-time the Lyon defender Grosso got a red card for slapping a Caen player in the tunnel. Lyon came out with 10 men, subbed Juninho for Clerc, a defender, then scored a second through you know who (a fantastic free kick). Then Lyon could have sown it up but bad luck, bad finishing, an excellent keeper and the woodwork kept Caen in the game. Caen could also have scored themselves especially in the last minute when Coupet miraculously kept out a Caen free kick. A good point in the end since Bordeaux couldn't beat a 10-man Nice team at home! I'm off to bed.

Paris SG 3:1 Auxerre
Bordeaux 0:0 Nice
Le Mans 3:2 Lens
Lille 3:2 Toulouse
Lyon 2:2 Caen
Metz 0:1Saint Etienne
Rennes 3:0 Strasbourg
Sochaux 1:1 Lorient

BB Bob

26-04-2008, 10:00 PM

P W D L GD Pts
1 Lyon 35 22 6 7 +34 72
2 Bordeaux 35 20 8 7 +24 68

3 Nancy 34 14 14 6 +13 56

4 Marseille 34 15 10 9 +12 55
5 Saint Etienne 35 15 8 12 +9 53
6 Lille 35 12 16 7 +12 52
7 Rennes 35 14 9 12 +1 51
8 Le Mans 35 14 9 12 -2 51
9 Nice 35 11 15 9 +2 48
10 Lorient 35 11 14 10 -4 47
11 Caen 35 12 11 12 -6 47
12 Valenciennes 34 12 8 14 +6 44
13 Monaco 34 12 7 15 -6 43
14 Sochaux 35 10 13 12 -6 43
15 Auxerre 35 11 8 16 -16 41
16 Toulouse 35 8 14 13 -6 38
17 Lens 35 9 11 15 -8 38

18 Paris SG 35 9 11 15 -9 38
19 Strasbourg 35 9 8 18 -14 35
20 Metz 35 4 8 23 -36 20

Bloody hell, it's tight at the bottom (as Frankie Howard used to say). 3 to play and it could be anyone. Nice's excellent point in Bordeaux probably hands the title to Lyon though!

A demain!

BB Bob

27-04-2008, 09:08 AM

Saturday 26 April 2008

Ligue 1, Matchday 35

Lyon 2
Benzema 34, 54

Caen 2
Eluchans 33, Compan 44

>> Match Stats

A Karim Benzema-inspired Lyon drew 2-2 with Caen on Saturday evening as the champions survived a scare at the Stade Gerland. Caen led at the break and when Fabio Grosso was sent-off at half-time the visitors sensed a famous win. The champions rallied though with Benzema pulling the strings to save Lyon 's blushes.

Gunning for a seventh consecutive Ligue 1 title, Lyon were comfortable favourites against a side whose last away win came back in 2007.

Predictably, Les Gones dominated the first quarter although it took them 34 minutes to open the scoring with Benzema heading home his 18th goal of the season to seemingly send the champions on their way.

Two minutes later and the youngster came close to making it two only for Vincent Planté to deny the French international. The miss proved crucial. Caen had obviously not read the script with Juan Eduardo Eluchans stunning the home side into silence with a shot past Gregory Coupet on 35 minutes.

And when Cedric Hengbart and Yoan Gouffran combined to play in Lilian Compan who finished for Caen's second on the stroke of half-time the possibility of a shock reverberated around a stupefied Stade Gerland. Lyon's hopes of coming back into the game were dealt a further blow prior to the restart when Grosso was shown a red card following a tussle with Gouffran in the tunnel during the break.

That didn't stop Lyon, and especially Benzema. The youngster took the game by the scruff of the neck and produced a virtuoso performance to drag his side back into contention. A stunning free-kick within 10 minutes of the restart drew the hosts level.

The home side poured forward as they searched for the winning goal to set up a processional end to the season. But for all their firepower, guile and muscle the champions could not find a way past Planté.

An injury-time shot from Kim Kallstrom hit the bar but the last piece of action belonged to Caen who, amazingly, could have won the game when Coupet saved superbly from Issam Jemaa to deny the minnows a famous win in the dying seconds.

Bordeaux 0

Nice 0

>> Match Stats

Bordeaux missed an opportunity to close the gap on Lyon with a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to 10-man Nice.

Defender Cyril Jeunechamp was given his marching orders for the visitors following a foul on Bordeaux midfielder Wendel on 30 minutes, but Frederic Antonetti's side mounted a superb defensive performance to shut out the high-flying hosts.

Les Girondins' 14-goal top scorer Fernando Cavenaghi missed a couple of early chances and was at the centre of most of Bordeaux's best play. He had a goal ruled out for hanball in the second-half and came closest to scoring when, agonisingly for the home side, his shot came back off the post two minutes from time.

Wendel and centre-half Souleymane Diawara also came close to scoring for the home side but Nice goalkeeper Hugo Lloris produced a superb performance, making several crucial saves.

Lyon's 2-2 draw at home to Caen means the gap at the top between the title challengers remains four points. Nice are ninth on 48pts.

PSG 3
Pauleta 3, Diane 13, 86

Auxerre 1
Mignot 78

>> Match Stats

PSG kept alive their hopes of avoiding relegation with a vital 3-1 win over Auxerre.

Goals from Pauleta and strike partner Amara Diane in the opening quarter of an hour set Paul Le Guen's side on the road to victory and although Jean-Pascal Mignot pulled a goal back for the visitors 12 minutes from time Diane added a second on 86 mintues to seal victory.

Former Portugal marksman Pauleta opened the scoring when he successfully followed up his own free-kick after it came back off the wall. Diane doubled PSG's advantage when he cut through Auxerre's defence to beat Rudy Riou on 13 minutes and Riou pulled off a brilliant save shortly before half-time to deny Diane a second.

Auxerre attacked rarely but just as the hosts appeared set to run out comfortable 2-0 winners centre-half Mignot leaped highest to head home substitute Thomas Kahlenberg's cross. Having scored in the final quarter-final Auxerre pressed in the closing stages but Diane wrapped up the points for PSG when the ball reached him in the area and he notched his ninth Ligue 1 goal of the season from close range four minutes from time.

PSG remain in the relegation zone on 31pts while Auxerre are not yet safe, lying 15th on 41pts.

Lille 3
Mirallas 30, 42, Bastos (pen) 40

Toulouse 2
Dieuze 25, Mansare 62

>> Match Stats

Kevin Mirallas grabbed his third and fourth goals in two games as Lille's excellent form continued with a 3-2 win over Toulouse.

The Belgium international – who struck twice against Marseille last weekend – notched a first-half brace to put the hosts in control before the visitors mounted a spirited second-half comeback.

Toulouse's Jeremy Mathieu hit the bar with a third-minute cross and the away team deservedly took the lead when Lille goalkeeper Tony Sylva let Nicolas Dieuze's shot slip through his hands on 25 minutes. But their lead was shortlived as outstanding midfielder Jean Makoun released Mirallas and he finished from the edge of the box on the half hour.

Lille added two goals in three minutes shortly before half-time as first Fode Mansare felled Frank Beria in the box and Brazilian Michel Bastos converted from the spot before Mirallas scored the best goal of the game, unleasing a terrific shot into the top corner after another Makoun assist.

Mirallas came close to his hat-trick after the break but his shot came back off the bar and Toulouse threw themselves a lifeline when winger Mansare scored on 62 minutes after good work from Paulo Cesar and Johan Elmander, After that, however, Elie Baup's visitors were unable to find an equaliser. They remain three points above the relegation zone while sixth-placed Lille have closed the gap on Marseille, in fourth, to three points.

Rennes 3
Pagis 33, 45, Lemoine 35

Strasbourg 0

>> Match Stats

Strasbourg plunged further into trouble near the foot of the table after a 3-0 defeat away to Rennes. The Alsatians, who have now lost eight games in a row, came up against a fervent Rennes side who brushed aside the former Ligue 2 outfit with three first-half goals.

From the start the home side were in control as Mickael Pagis missed an excellent chance early on and JamesFanchoné repeating the feat for the visitors in the opening salvos of the match.

Former Marseille man Pagis though made up for his profligacy with the game's opening goal on 33 minutes – a rebounded effort.

Fabien Lemoine doubled the lead just two minutes later with a strong shot past Stephane Cassard. And when Pagis made it three on the stroke of half-time following a misplaced clearance from the Strasbourg goalkeeper, the visitors' defeat, with 45 minutes to go, was sealed.

The Alsatians' fight back in the second-half was muted although Jacob Mulenga did see a header of his pushed onto the bar by Simon Pouplin.

The effort was a consolatory one as Rennes bossed the finishing stages and emerged comfortable winners. With three games to go, Strasbourg lie three points from safety and unless they manage to buck their losing trend a swift return to Ligue 2 awaits.

Le Mans 3
Matsui 20, 25, Basa 49

Lens 2
Dindane 34, Monnet-Paquet 84

>> Match Stats

Le Mans gained revenge for their 5-4 defeat at the hands of Lens in the Coupe de la Ligue semi-final at the end of February with a thrilling 3-2 victory over the same rivals at Stade Leon-Bollee.

Japanese midfielder Daisuke Matsui was star of the show for Rudi Garcia's side, scoring a first-half brace to inspire his side's victory. His opener was a stunning goal, as he met Stephane Sessegnon's cross with a volley that flew into the top corner. On a high after that wondrous finish, Matsui added his second five minutes later following another Sessegnon assist.

Lens – who are battling relegation – hit back before half-time when Aruna Dindane grabbed his third goal in two games and eighth of the season with a shot high into the net after Le Mans failed to clear their lines. That strike appeared to give Jean-Pierre Papin's visitors hopes of getting back into the match, but their optimism was short-lived as central defender Marko Basa increased les Manceaux' advantage from close range after a goalmouth scramble four minutes after the restart. As a result, Kevin Monnet-Paquet's goal for Lens six minutes from time prove nothing more than a consolation.

Lens have stayed out of the relegation zone, but on goal difference only. Le Mans remain in the hunt for a European place in eighth.

Sochaux 1
Erding 80

Lorient 1
Jouffre 44

Match Stats

Sochaux and Lorient shared the points in an even encounter thanks to goals either side of half-time from Yann Jouffre and Mevlut Erding.

Sochaux's recent good run had boosted their chances of retaining their Ligue 1 status after a fraught beginning to the season but with Lorient having conceded just five goals in their last eight matches the match was always going to be tight.

A slow first-half looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw before Jouffre sneaked a goal within a minute of the break to give the visitors a precious lead.

The home side battled much harder in the second period and were unlucky not to score on 76 minutes with a Stephane Dalmat shot before Erding grabbed a lifeline nine minutes from time thanks to a superb headed goal. It was the Turk's 11th successful strike of the season.

The result benefits both teams with Sochaux looking comfortable in 14th and Lorient chasing a lucrative European place for next season positioned strongly on 47 points.

Metz 0

Saint-Etienne 1
Gomis 48

>> Match Stats

Relegated Metz slumped to their 23rd defeat of the season as a 10-man Saint-Etienne side swept to a 1-0 victory thanks to Bafetimbi Gomis' second-half goal.

Despite having only three away wins under their belt in 2007-08, Saint-Etienne were expected to dispose easily of already relegated Metz. Les Verts travelled to Metz unbeaten in their last six matches with a place in Europe in their sights.

However, the home team started the stronger side and Jeff Strasser sent a header wide early in the game. The defender then had a goal chalked off for offside as Metz continued their mission to finish the season as strongly as possible.

Saint-Etienne took their time getting into the match and their first real chance of the game came as late as the 39th minute when Gomis arrowed a shot wide of the Metz post.

Two minutes later and the visitors' hopes of winning a fourth away encounter of the season were dealt a dramatic blow when influential midfielder Geoffrey Dernis was given his marching orders for an altercation with Laurent Agouazi.

The 10 men of Saint-Etienne re-emerged from the half-time break a different team, though, and immediately took the lead through Gomis, the Frenchman finishing off a swift counter-attack.

The goal boosted the visitors' self-belief and they contained a tired Metz side throughout the second period to conserve fifth place in the table, two points behind Marseille in fourth.

BB Bob

28-04-2008, 07:08 AM

Nancy slip up
Nancy fail to win all three points at Valenciennes in a 1-1 draw - a stalemate which will have pleased Marseille...
Ligue 1, Matchday 35
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Stade Nungesser

Valenciennes 1
Audel 50

Nancy 1
Berenguer 10

>> Match Stats

Nancy and Valenciennes shared the points in a 1-1 draw at the Stade Nungesser on Sunday – a result which endangers Nancy's hopes of finishing third and with it a place in next season's UEFA Champions League.

With three games to go Nancy's chances of ending the season well hang by a thread after a stalemate that handed the initiative to Marseille. A firm part of the top four all season Pablo Correa's men have endured a terrible couple of weeks with only one win in their last five league games. And now the slump threatens to undo all their good work in the early part of the campaign.

The visitors looked to have banished their blues with an early goal after just ten minutes with Pascal Berenguer finishing tidily. The goal inspired Nancy and for much of the half they bossed both possession and territory.

Valenciennes though have a proud tradition of coming back from a goal down at home and so it proved again when, five minutes into the second period, Johan Audel volleyed home from an excellent Steve Savidan cross.

And although Valenciennes tried to push forward Nancy were far too nimble and but for some wasted chances towards the end from Landry N'Guemmo and Monsef Zerka could have ended the game winners.

As it was, they had to wait - as it turned out in vain - to see if Monaco could do them any favours against Marseille in the late kick-off on Sunday.

BB Bob

28-04-2008, 07:08 AM

Magical Marseille
Djibril Cissé strikes late on to help Marseille to a 3-2 victory and a place in third.
Ligue 1, Matchday 35
Sunday, April 27
Stade Louis II, Monaco

Monaco 2
Gonzalez 56, Leko 63

Marseille 3
Nasri 28, Taiwo 61, Cissé 82

>> Match Stats

Marseille moved into third in Ligue 1 with a 3-2 victory over Monaco in the principality, OM having to come back three times to secure victory with Samir Nasri, Taye Taiwo and Djibril Cissé getting the goals.

With eight minutes to go the game seemed set for a draw before Cissé struck to hand his team all three points and a potential UEFA Champions League spot come May.

Nancy's 1-1 draw earlier in the day against Valenciennes gave Marseille the impetus to go all out for the win against Monaco and with Ricardo's men aiming to avoid a fourth home defeat on the spin, the odds were stacked against the home side.

Monaco's dreadful run of form has meant they run the risk of being dragged into the relegation fight – just four years after appearing in the UEFA Champions League final.

And it was easy to see why Ricardo's men have struggled so much as they allowed Marseille time and space on the ball in a first-half in which they failed to threaten.

And although Marseille took their time to get going, they found the home defence only too willing to allow them forward, Cheyrou waltzing through with ease on 24 minutes only for Sylvain Monsoreau to clear with Flavio Roma beaten.

Monaco's porous back four did not learn and minutes later were 1-0 down with Nasri taking advantage of the back-pedalling defence and shooting through the legs of Monsoreau and past Roma.

Monaco's impotency though changed dramatically in the second period, the principality outfit actually baring some teeth for once. The difference was immediately noticeable as Bakar forced Mandanda into a remarkable save only for the young 'keeper to miss Gonzalez's header from the resultant corner for 1-1.

However, Marseille retook their lead almost straight away with Taiwo thundering a rebounded effort through Roma's legs for 2-1. The flurry of goals continued with Monaco equalising yet again with Leko expertly lobbing Mandanda following a poor punch.

And although Monaco seemed satisfied with the draw, Marseille were anything but. Knowing a win would put them above Nancy, OM kept testing the home defence and their pressure told when, with eight minutes to go, Cissé finished superbly following a smart move to hand his team all three points.

BB Bob

28-04-2008, 07:09 AM

Ligue 1 Orange P W D L GD Pts
1 Lyon 35 22 6 7 +34 72
2 Bordeaux 35 20 8 7 +24 68

3 Marseille 35 16 10 9 +13 58

4 Nancy 35 14 15 6 +13 57
5 Saint Etienne 35 15 8 12 +9 53
6 Lille 35 12 16 7 +12 52
7 Rennes 35 14 9 12 +1 51
8 Le Mans 35 14 9 12 -2 51
9 Nice 35 11 15 9 +2 48
10 Lorient 35 11 14 10 -4 47
11 Caen 35 12 11 12 -6 47
12 Valenciennes 35 12 9 14 +6 45
13 Sochaux 35 10 13 12 -6 43
14 Monaco 35 12 7 16 -7 43
15 Auxerre 35 11 8 16 -16 41
16 Toulouse 35 8 14 13 -6 38
17 Lens 35 9 11 15 -8 38

18 Paris SG 35 9 11 15 -9 38
19 Strasbourg 35 9 8 18 -14 35
20 Metz 35 4 8 23 -36 20

BB Bob

01-05-2008, 05:15 PM

Hmmmm......not sure about this - it should have been points!

PSG banned from 2008/09 Coupe de la Ligue
Paris St Germain have been excluded from next season's Coupe de la Ligue as a result of the insulting banner their fans unfurled at this year's final.
The LFP is making a sustained attempt to eliminate any racist activity around its teams or their fans, and from the moment the banner appeared, for around five minutes early in the second half of the March 29 match against Lens at the Stade de France, there was no doubt PSG would face a severe penalty.

The offensive wording made a string of derogatory remarks about "people from the North", and was clearly aimed at the fans and players of Lens.

The tasteless wording ended "Welcome to the North", the sentiment of a controversial film which is currently attracting much attention in France. The rest included revolting sexual inuendos and a cheap jibe about the unemployed - there are many people unavoidably without work in the Lens area.

Announcing the decision of the LFP Disciplinary Commission, Jean-Pierre Hugues, director general of the LFP, commented: "The penalty is a very serious one to a club which cannot now defend its title, and with that loses the chance to play in the UEFA Cup. This exclusion is far from trivial - it represents a significant financial loss."

A statement from the LFP Disciplinary Commission included: "This affair involved premeditation and a lot of thought, and it could only have taken place with the benefit of compliance and complicity in security on the part of PSG elements - proved by the inertia and the passivity of about 50 stewards in PSG's stand at the moment the banner was deployed.

"The individuals charged are all identified as supporters of PSG and parts of the banner had even been made in the area reserved for these supporters at the Parc des Princes (home stadium of PSG).

"Each club is responsible for the behaviour of its supporters as much at home as away and on neutral ground, in accordance with article 129 of the FFF.

"The final of the Coupe de la Ligue, one of the great occasions in the season, was tarnished and sullied by the supporters of PSG."

While the penalty might have been worse - relegation-threatened PSG faced the possibility of being deducted points - the club said it would appeal against the decision.

A club statement of response read: "At the same time as once again condemning this banner, Paris St Germain declares itself profoundly shocked by the this punishment which excludes those responsible for this affair.

"The club will put into place all the ways of recourse at its disposal to fight this decision and have it annulled."

kabbott

03-05-2008, 12:04 PM

I think it's just about the right decision. It happened in the 'Ligue' Cup so an exclusion seems fair. If they'd been docked points there would have been an appeal and then another and then another ... In France these things take ages to deal with. Maybe if PSG were mid-table, they could have been docked points and nobody would have said anything. Justice may simply be relegation to PSG because they weren't good enough this season.

kabbott

03-05-2008, 12:10 PM

Loto sportif time. Lyon is the live game this afternoon at 17.10 (heure française) against Nice, so it least this match will keep our minds off the other business tomorrow afternoon. Here goes:

Nice v Lyon AWAY WIN (sorry)
Toulouse v Paris Saint Germain HOME WIN (coup de chapeau Elmander)
Auxerre v Valenciennes DRAW (Auxerre could get dragged into this)
Caen v Rennes DRAW
Lens v Monaco HOME WIN (they don't desrve to go down)
Lorient v Le Mans DRAW
Nancy v Strasbourg AWAY WIN (to set the cat among the pigeons)
Sochaux v Metz HOME WIN
St. Etienne v Lille HOME WIN
Marseille v Bordeaux HOME WIN (Marseille can do Lyon a favour here)

The Omen

03-05-2008, 03:30 PM

When they say they lose their chance to play in the UEFA cup does that mean they are kicked out for next season or they just wont be able to qualify via the league cup?

kabbott

03-05-2008, 07:33 PM

Originally posted by The Omen
When they say they lose their chance to play in the UEFA cup does that mean they are kicked out for next season or they just wont be able to qualify via the league cup?

By the wording I assume it means they won't be able to qualify for the 2009-2010 UEFA Cup but that they are still in next season's UEFA Cup.

kabbott

03-05-2008, 07:37 PM

Nice 0:0 Lyon ...

... played in very warm weather for the first time in the season. The last 30 minutes were played at a snail's pace. Pleasant-ish game to watch up until then. Lyon won 2 crossbars to 1. Obviously Benzema didn't score but every time he touches the ball, he's real class. Hope he stays for another year or two.

kabbott

03-05-2008, 07:40 PM

Toulouse 1: 1 PSG

The home team sneaked an equaliser in the 89th minute. I don't know if it suits anyone. It'll depend on the other results later tonight.

kabbott

03-05-2008, 08:06 PM

All tonight's scores:

Nice (9) 0-0 Lyon (1)
Toulouse (16) 1-1 Paris-SG (18)
Nancy (4) 3-0 Strasbourg (19)
Caen (11) 2-2 Rennes (7)
Lorient (10) 0-0 Le Mans (8)
Auxerre (15) 2-0 Valenciennes (12)
Sochaux (13) 0-0 Metz (20)
Lens (17) 0-0 Monaco (14)

kabbott

03-05-2008, 08:09 PM

Looks like it's going down to the wire especially at the squeaky bottom of the table!

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Lyon 73 36 22 7 7 70 36 34
2 Bordeaux 68 35 20 8 7 59 35 24

3 Nancy 60 36 15 15 6 42 26 16

4 Marseille 58 35 16 10 9 53 40 13

5 Saint-Etienne 53 35 15 8 12 42 33 9
6 Lille 52 35 12 16 7 42 30 12
7 Rennes 52 36 14 10 12 42 41 1
8 Le Mans 52 36 14 10 12 43 45 -2
9 Nice 49 36 11 16 9 30 28 2
10 Lorient 48 36 11 15 10 29 33 -4
11 Caen 48 36 12 12 12 43 49 -6
12 Valenciennes 45 36 12 9 15 40 36 4
13 Sochaux 44 36 10 14 12 33 39 -6
14 Monaco 44 36 12 8 16 37 44 -7
15 Auxerre 44 36 12 8 16 32 46 -14
16 Toulouse 39 36 8 15 13 33 39 -6
17 Lens 39 36 9 12 15 40 48 -8

18 Paris-SG 39 36 9 12 15 34 43 -9
19 Strasbourg 35 36 9 8 19 30 47 -17
20 Metz 21 36 4 9 23 23 59 -36

Martouf

04-05-2008, 04:26 PM

Auxerre won :lux: at least...

BB Bob

04-05-2008, 06:20 PM

Another bore draw for Nice. All eyes on the velodrome now!

kabbott

04-05-2008, 08:58 PM

Oh la la!!! Incroyable.

Just tuned in to watch the last 30 minutes of Marseille v Bordeaux. Marseille were 1:0 up with z goal from Niang just after half-time. With 10 minutes left Wendel equalised with a superb free-kick. And in the final minute Ducasse made it 1:2 to Bordeaux with a screamer from25/30 yards. No squeaky bottoms at SP this afternoon, but they getting that way around here in Lyon. Only 2 points ahead with 2 matches left. Lyon also have the delicate mission of a French Cup semi-final mid-week. Will Reggie rest players or not? They've got Nancy in the Ligue next weekend!

BB Bob

04-05-2008, 08:59 PM

I was watching the scores on l'equipe! Sounds like another corker of a Sunday night game for you. Everything to play for at both ends of the table

kabbott

05-05-2008, 07:49 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
I was watching the scores on l'equipe! Sounds like another corker of a Sunday night game for you. Everything to play for at both ends of the table

I only saw the last 30 minutes. The best 30 from a neutral's point of view, not quite so good from a Lyon point of view. Both goals were superb. Wendel is becoming quite a star from free-kicks, at the same time, Juninho has been pretty transparent recently. Maybe there'll be a Juni special next weekend. In the meantime we've got two little 'Coupe' semi-finals to get our teeth into tomorrow night and Wednesday.

Andrews69

06-05-2008, 01:23 AM

But I like most teams really with the obvious exception of Paris Saint Germain. Nobody likes them anywhere else in France.

Swanny and I went to see PSG, we like them even if nobody else does! :(

BB Bob

06-05-2008, 07:30 AM

Originally posted by Andrews69
But I like most teams really with the obvious exception of Paris Saint Germain. Nobody likes them anywhere else in France.

Swanny and I went to see PSG, we like them even if nobody else does! :(

Thats OK. Somebody's got to! ;)

BB Bob

06-05-2008, 12:53 PM

So two games left at the top (cup games aside, of course):-

Matchday 37 5/10/2008 - 20:45 Lyon Nancy
Matchday 38 5/17/2008 - 20:45 Auxerre Lyon

Matchday 37 5/10/2008 - 20:45 Bordeaux Sochaux
Matchday 38 5/17/2008 - 20:45 Lens Bordeaux

A tough game at home this weekend at the Gerland and a fairly tough one for Bordeaux. As for the last games, lets hope that Lens don't need anything out of their last week, or they could be struggling.

It could go either way, in my view. If Lyons drop points again this weekend and Bordeaux take advantage, it could be a very very twitchy last week. That said, Bordeaux's goal difference is much poorer than Lyon's s advantage to les Gones there.

BB Bob

06-05-2008, 01:01 PM

As for the 3rd and final Champions league spot, its a race between Nancy and Marseille with advantage Nancy after last weekend. Two games left, Nancy 2pts clear:-

Matchday 37 5/10/2008 - 20:45 Lyon Nancy
Matchday 38 5/17/2008 - 20:45 Nancy Rennes

Matchday 37 5/10/2008 - 20:45 Le Mans Marseille
Matchday 38 5/17/2008 - 20:45 Marseille Strasbourg

Personally, I'd prefer OMs run in, although Le Mans is a tricky place to go to. Nancy need a result of some kind at Lyon, who need a result to etc. etc. etc.

It's good stuff, isn't it?

kabbott

06-05-2008, 07:16 PM

Let's forget le championnat for a couple of days and enjoy the semi-finals la Coupe de France. Amiens v PSG has just started. Could PSG be the first club ever to win the two cup competitions and get relegated? Who knows? As usual, Paul le Guen has put out a sort of B-team which is made up of one or two useful players, (who aren't in the first team) because they have been playing even worse than the first-teamers! and some youngsters. They're not pretty to watch but at least they win! Amiens are near the bottom of Ligue 2 but are safe from relegation. In the Amiens team is one PSG youngster who is on loan this season, and an ex-PSG player who probably opened his gob once too many 4 years ago and got put on the transfer list and ended up at Marseille where he was equally badly treated. (Well, he was a PSG reject!) He didn't stay there long either, then went to play in Qatar, came back to France and played in cr*p Ligue 2 team before coming to Amiens (another cr*p team!). His name? Fabrice Fiorèse. What are the odds on him coming back to haunt PSG with the winning goal tonight?

kabbott

06-05-2008, 09:52 PM

Mon Dieu!
An absolutely hopeless performance from PSG but they scraped through 0:1 with a goal scored about 15 minutes from the end. The French call this type of victory 'un hold-up' and it certainly was. amiens were all over PSG throughout the second half but couldn't score, and PSG couldn't string two passes together. It was young sub by the name of Boli (none other ex-Marseille hero Basile Boli's nephew) who got the only goal with a very good goal, playing a one-two and dribbling through a tired defence before shooting past the PSG reserve keeper Alonso. Tonight PSG had the luck that's been deserting them in the Ligue. They're probably wishing they only had to play Cup games. Hopefully there'll be no banana skin tomorrow night for Lyon. Bonne nuit.

BB Bob

07-05-2008, 07:09 AM

Thanks for the report!

kabbott

07-05-2008, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Thanks for the report!

Hope any little helps. Obviously you follow quite a lot of french footy on the Equipe website and also your match reports which I also found. The French Eurosport site is also pretty good too. I never know how much of the Ligue highlights you get, so I don't know if you get to see any of these cracking goals that have been scored recently. Hopefully there'll be one going Lyon's way tonight against Sedan. Looks like Benzema, Govou and Keita will be starting on the bench. Ben Arfa will have a chance to redeem himself and Fred is due a goal or two too! a colleague of mine came into work yesterday saying, 'Have you heard about Perrin's departure? It's official!' They wouldn't have done anything as stupid as that in the most crucial week in Lyon's recent history, would they? And it would seem they didn't. But it's pretty sure there are a load of people waiting for Lyon to mess this one up. In the press Deschamps, Puel and Lippi's names were mentioned as possible future coaches, and my mate mentioned some Brazilian coach from Sao Paulo. On verra bien ...

BB Bob

07-05-2008, 01:01 PM

I get pretty cr*p highlights, really. One night in the week - it moves around a fair amount - and at somewhere between 1am and 6am, Channel 5 show 50 minute highlight show. Apart from the other week where they cut it to 15 minutes and I didn't get to see any of the Bordeaux v Nice game. Grrrrr.

Setanta were showing a game on a Sunday, but haven't done for the last 6 weeks or so as they are showing the IPL - Indian Cricket Tournament. Terrific.

I might get to see the semi final goals if I'm lucky, but I won't hold my breath. So I am left with l'equipe (in print and on-line), RTL radio and an overactive imagination!

Things are getting very sloppy at Lyon, aren't they. I can't believe Aulas will go for a Brazilian, unless it is Big Phil Scolari or Luxembergo (if that's his name). He wants a big name, doesn't he? Maybe Sven Goran Ericcson who is about to leave Man City? But would any of them want to work in the structure that Aulas wants them to work in? I'm not sure.

Allez Lyon ce soir as I think we all want to see a PSG v Lyon final!

kabbott

07-05-2008, 06:57 PM

The Lyon team tonight with Benzema, Govou and Juninho on the bench just in case.

G.Coupet
A.Réveillère
J.Boumsong
Cris (c.)
F.Grosso
J.Toulalan
K.Källström
M.Bodmer
H.Ben Arfa
Fred
K.Keita
Entraîneur
Alain Perrin

I do feel sorry for Reggie at times. I hope he gets some kind of recognition from the crowd at least and that it doesn't go pear-shaped so that all the blame will be heaped on him.
Qui ne saute pas n'est pas Lyonnais eh
Qui ne saute pas n'est pas Lyonnais eh

Coup d'envoi dans trois minutes. A plus§

BB Bob

07-05-2008, 09:20 PM

Boing boing allez Lyon boing boing allez Lyon boing boing

Dodgy 1-0 win? Juninho 88 minutes.

PSG v Lyon it is then!

kabbott

07-05-2008, 09:34 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Boing boing allez Lyon boing boing allez Lyon boing boing

Dodgy 1-0 win? Juninho 88 minutes.

PSG v Lyon it is then!

Dodgy 1st half. better 2nd half. Juni was long due one. Typical 35ish yard swerving free kick of which only he has the secret. Poor keeper had no idea which way it was going. Lyon had all the chances against a gutsy Sedan team. It looked like it wasn't going to happen and maybe Sedan were going to sneak one in the closing minutes or even in extra time, which would have done Lyon no good at all in preparation for the big one against Nancy on Saturday. At least Benzema only played 15 or so minutes and Govou didn't come on at all. Ben Arfa was disappointing again but he's probably lacking match fitness now having missed so many matches. Roll on Saturday pour la grande soirée de foot. Salut!

BB Bob

08-05-2008, 10:25 PM

Title showdown and a race for Europe
With two games to go in the 2007/08 Ligue 1 season, it is all to play for. At the top the excitement is mounting with Alain Perrin's Lyon and Laurent Blanc's Bordeaux battling for the title and half a dozen teams preparing for the final sprint to European places.
Here we take a look at the race for Europe and what each team must do in order to assure themselves of a place amongst the continent's elite next season.
PSG's League Cup victory has already guaranteed the capital club a place in the UEFA Cup next season. Furthermore, the fact that Paul Le Guen's side have reached their second domestic final of the season – the French Cup – where they will play Lyon means that a second UEFA Cup place has become available via the league. The fifth placed team will now play in the UEFA Cup alongside the fourth placed team and PSG.

1. Lyon

Les Gones are already certain of a UEFA Champions League spot next season thanks their unassailable lead at the top of the table. Next season will be Lyon's ninth consecutive camapign in the top tier of European competition. They have never breached the quarter-final barrier having failed in 2004, 2005 and 2006 to reach the last four.

2. Bordeaux

Laurent Blanc's men are also assured of a place at the European top table in season 2008/09 after a hugely successful campaign. Next year will be only their second experience of the UEFA Champions League having reached the Second Group Stage of the competition in 1999/2000.

3. Nancy

Should they maintain their two point gap over Marseille in fourth, Pablo Correa's side will make history by entering the UEFA Champions League for the first time next season. To do so they must at least match Marseille's results over the next two games – away to Lyon and at home to Rennes. If they are successful then they will enter the hat for the Third Qualifying Round, the same stage of the competition that saw Toulouse lose 5-0 on aggregate this season to Liverpool.

4. Marseille

OM hold the distinction of being French football's only winner of the UEFA Champions League. Their victory in 1993 over AC Milan was the first in the rebranded competition. Two years earlier – in the European Champion Clubs' Cup - they lost in the final against Red Star Belgrade. In all, Marseille have appeared nine times in one or other of the European Cup formats and are gunning for a tenth.

To do so, they must hope that Nancy drop points while they themselves pick up the maximum allowed against Le Mans (away) and Strasbourg (home). If the fail, and finish fourth, they will represent France in the UEFA Cup next season.

5. Saint-Etienne

Les Verts are France's most experienced European campaigners having played 73 matches in continental competition. With ten European Cup seasons to their name Saint-Etienne have a slim chance of making it 11 next season.

Six points behind Nancy in third, should Saint-Etienne win their last two games (against PSG and Monaco) – with Nancy and Marseille losing both of theirs – and reverse a seven goal deficit Laurent Roussey's men will cap a tremendous second-half to the season. As it is, fifth place will reward them with a place in the UEFA Cup.

6. Lille

Unable to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, les Dogues look set to fight Saint-Etienne for the last UEFA Cup place. The loser (sixth place) will have to make do with a place in the Intertoto Cup. Saturday's derby against northern rivals Lens will go a long way to settling that dispute with Claude Puel's men visiting Lorient on the final day.

7. Rennes

Denied a place in the UEFA Champions League last season by one point, les Rennais' only hope of European glory is the UEFA Cup. For that to happen both Saint-Etienne and Lille must drop points.

8. Le Mans

In the same position as Rennes, Le Mans have an outside chance of qualifying for Europe. A difficult hosting of Marseille awaits on Saturday before the relatively easier trip to Metz on the final Matchday of the season.

BB Bob

08-05-2008, 10:32 PM

I know, I know....what about the National. Sorry for not updating you too much on this league. Les Crocodiles of Nimes don't need to do much over the next two to get promoted after a post Xmas surge. Poor old Villemomble look like they are heading back for obscurity though...

Général Domicile Extérieur Buteurs Fair-Play
Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Vannes OC 65 36 19 8 9 44 29 15
2 Tours FC 63 36 18 9 9 51 29 22
3 Nîmes 60 36 16 12 8 45 35 10

4 Sète 56 36 14 14 8 39 27 12
5 Cherbourg 55 36 15 10 11 44 37 7
6 Laval 55 36 13 16 7 47 26 21
7 Paris FC 50 36 12 14 10 52 50 2
8 Istres 49 36 13 10 13 40 40 0
9 Arles 48 36 11 15 10 35 35 0
10 Beauvais 47 36 12 11 13 42 43 -1
11 Entente SSG 47 36 14 5 17 43 50 -7
12 Rodez 45 36 13 6 17 39 44 -5
13 Créteil 45 36 10 15 11 40 35 5
14 Calais 44 36 10 14 12 38 39 -1
15 Louhans-Cuiseaux 44 36 12 8 16 40 55 -15
16 Cannes 41 36 10 14 12 38 48 -10

17 Pau 38 36 11 5 20 35 57 -22
18 Villemomble 38 36 8 14 14 25 35 -10
19 Martigues 37 36 8 13 15 34 46 -12
20 Romorantin 37 36 8 13 15 31 42 -11

Pénalités :
Cannes : -3 points

BB Bob

09-05-2008, 12:58 PM

Relegation battle with two games to go
Two matchdays from the end of a fantastic 2007-08 season, SEVEN clubs are fighting to avoid joining already-relegated Metz in the drop zone. With some big names among the contenders, there is sure to be at least one shock come the end of the season. Here we run down the teams in trouble.

Lorient, Valenciennes, Caen… they are just a few of the so-called smaller clubs who can look forward to another season of Ligue 1 football in 2008-09.

But the same cannot be said for traditionally powerful outfits Toulouse, PSG and Lens – at least not yet. That trio of big clubs are among the names battling to avoid relegation to Ligue 2 as the season reaches a tense and thrilling climax – for neutrals, in any case – at the foot of the table.

Here's our rundown of all the teams battling to avoid the drop.

Ligue 1 table correct as of Friday, May 9, 2008

13. Sochaux

Les Doubistes are one of three clubs – along with Monaco and Auxerre – who can, in theory, be relegated, but it would take an extraordinary combination of results for them to finish in the bottom three. Sochaux are one of the most-improved sides in Ligue 1 in 2008. Nineteenth at the turn of the year, they have won seven and drawn seven of their last 17 fixtures to pull away from trouble. Francis Gillot, who has inspired their revival since taking over as coach in December, deserves enormous credit.

14. Monaco

Monaco have endured a hugely disappointing season after being among the pre-season favourites to challenge title holders Lyon. Coach Ricardo was expected to improve upon last season's eighth place, but instead the Principality outfit have slipped further down the table. They face Auxerre (home) this weekend and St Etienne (away) on the final day needing one point to be absolutely sure of avoiding the drop.

15. Auxerre

Auxerre look almost certain to avoid relegation after a 2-0 win at home to Valenciennes last weekend. Even with a substantially inferior goal difference to those around them, a point at Monaco this weekend will secure survival – but, like Monaco, they could afford to lose both remaining games if any one of the three teams below them failed to win their remaining two fixtures. After Monaco, they face champions Lyon (home) on the final matchday.

16. Toulouse

Toulouse finished third in Ligue 1 last season so their presence among the relegation candidates is a huge surprise. A heavy fixture calendar, caused by their participation in the Champions League and then the Uefa Cup, coupled with a crippling injury list, are the reasons for their demise. A vital point at home to PSG (1-1) last weekend means they stay above Paul Le Guen's side on goal difference but they must take maximum points against Rennes (away) and Valenciennes (home) in their final two games to be sure of survival.

17. Lens

Lens were widely tipped to challenge Lyon for the title but Guy Roux, appointed last summer, lasted less than two months as coach before making way for Jean-Pierre Papin. Former Lens manager Daniel Leclercq was recruited to work alongside Ligue 1 rookie Papin in January, but his arrival has made no improvement to Lens' fortunes. The Sang et Or have the hardest final two fixtures of any clubs at the bottom. They face high-flying local rivals Lille (away) this weekend and title challengers Bordeaux (home) on the final day. Their 17-year spell in the top flight could be coming to an end.

18. PSG

Who would have bet on PSG being in the relegation zone with two games to go? Coach Paul Le Guen and president Alain Cayzac were aiming to finish among the European places, but the club has stumbled and stuttered all season, with Cayzac resigning a fortnight ago. The capital outfit have won the Coupe de la Ligue and reached the Coupe de France final, but even clinching two domestic trophies would be little consolation if they are relegated for the first time in their history. PSG face St Etienne (home) and Sochaux (away) in their final two matches of the season.

19. Strasbourg

It's clear why Strasbourg are 19th – they have lost their last nine games, a club record and one of the worst runs of any Ligue 1 side in recent memory. Jean-Marc Furlan's promoted outfit played impressively during the first half of the campaign but have run out of steam two months early and now look almost certain to make an immediate return to Ligue 2. They must take maximum points from their two remaining games against Caen (home) and Marseille (away) – but even that probably won't be enough to save them.

20. Metz

Metz have been bottom of the table since matchday 4 last August and it came as no surprise when their fate was eventually sealed with a 2-1 defeat against Marseille on April 12. To their credit, however, they have played some excellent football during the second-half of the campaign under Yvon Pouliquen and refused to roll over despite being doomed, their hard-working 0-0 draw at Sochaux last weekend being a case in point. President Carlo Mo0linari will be disappointed to see his club back in Ligue 2 12 months after promotion, but if they can hold on to their young stars, such as Miralem Pjanic and Rudy Gestede, they will have a chance of an immediate return.

BB Bob

09-05-2008, 01:20 PM

I'd better do the Lotto while I've got 5 minutes!

Matchday 37 - Saturday, May 10, 2008

20:45 Bordeaux Sochaux

Sochaux could do Lyon a favour, but I wouldn't bet against les girondins at the moment. Home win.

20:45 Le Mans Marseille

The pressure is really on Marseille now. Nothing but a win will do against a Le Mans team playing very well. I think they will overstretch themselves. Home win

20:45 Lille Lens

Lens in all kinds of trouble and, with Dindane out (I think), I can't see them troubling a greatly improved Lille side. Home win.

20:45 Lyon Nancy

So where does Reggie go from here? Lots of pressure and a team well out of sorts against a functional Nancy team who have everything to play for. Draw.

20:45 Metz Lorient

Metz have played a lot better since the break and Lorient probably aren't too bothered. Home win.

20:45 Monaco Auxerre

Neither team has much to go for - bore Draw

20:45 Paris SG Saint Etienne

Oh no - back at the Parc and those fans! St Etienne chasing a Euro spot, Gomes smoking hot - it all points to an Away win to me.

20:45 Rennes Toulouse

Rennes have got a distant chance of the UEFA, but it's very unlikely. Toulouse pulled it out of the bag last week - can they do so this week? A draw, I reckon.

20:45 Strasbourg Caen

Strasbourg have to win (see above) and are on a 9 match losing run. Caen don't travel so well, so maybe tonights the night Strasbourg turn it round. Maybe not, though. Draw

20:45 Valenciennes Nice

Nice have surpirsed me by taking points off both Bordeaux and Lyon in the last month. Interstingly, the Valenciennes manager (whose name escapes me for the moment) was linked in the paper with the PSG job. He denied it but gave a "never say never" quote at the end. Will that unsettle Valanciennes? It could do, but Nice would still have to score an away goal! Another draw, IMHO.

Enjoy the games

kabbott

09-05-2008, 03:44 PM

Miralem Pjanic was a guest at the Lyon - Sedan semi-final the other day. He looked a really good prospect when he played against Lyon in the Cup match earlier on in the season. Looks like President Aulas is getting in there quickly. Aulas has also been getting stick in the press this week about how he's been handling communication within the club. Normally wily and astute, rather than proning solidarity, he's been doing the opposite. I still think Lyon should manage 4 points from the final two matches to clinch it though. As for the bottom, I'm sure Strasbourg will join Metz, and then it's one from Toulouse, PSG or Lens. The others are safe, I think. Whatever, it's a big club that's going down, and PSG still have a lot of work to do to get out of their merde. Anyway it's twitchy Saturday on both sides of La Manche. Salut!

BB Bob

09-05-2008, 04:37 PM

How are Lyon going to keep Pjanic, ederson, bodmer, toulalan and juni all happy?

Maybe they'll lend one of them to Palace when we go up!

What other French league players would you want to see at Selhurst (and being realistic). For me kone would be a good signing, although a bit lightweight. He's got the pace, though to scare any premiership defender.

Others could be lichsteiner from lille, lloris from nice (he's too good though), Puygrenier from nancy, tulio from le mans.

A bientot

kabbott

09-05-2008, 06:58 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
How are Lyon going to keep Pjanic, ederson, bodmer, toulalan and juni all happy?

Maybe they'll lend one of them to Palace when we go up!

What other French league players would you want to see at Selhurst (and being realistic). For me kone would be a good signing, although a bit lightweight. He's got the pace, though to scare any premiership defender.

Others could be lichsteiner from lille, lloris from nice (he's too good though), Puygrenier from nancy, tulio from le mans.

A bientot

Pjanic probably wouldn't walk into the first team. He's only 18. He'll need a little time. I reckon Bodmer, like others in the past, needed one season to get used to the place. He'll blossom next season, I'm sure of that. What worries me is that Juni could be coming to the end of a great career. O.K. he scored another corker the other night but they haven't been as regular as previous seasons and his general influence on matches isn't as important as in the past. We've also forgotten Kallstrom in midfield, but I can see him playing in England somewhere next season.
As for French Ligue players I'll have to give it more thought as to who might be interested and/or who we could afford. I'll be back.

kabbott

10-05-2008, 08:46 PM

Well it's all down to the final matches to see who gets there and who doesn't. Strasbourg are down. Didn't see the matches because it was Madame's turn for the telly. I'll be watching highlights later.

Bordeaux 2 - 0 Sochaux
Le Mans 0 - 0 Marseille
Lille 2 - 1 Lens
Lyon 1 - 0 Nancy
Metz 1 - 2 Lorient
Monaco 3 - 0 Auxerre
Paris SG 1 - 1 St-Etienne
Rennes 2 - 1 Toulouse
Strasbourg 1 - 4 Caen
Valenciennes 1 - 2 Nice

kabbott

10-05-2008, 08:51 PM

This is how the table reads ...

Equipe Pts J. G. N. P. p. c. Diff.
1 Lyon 76 37 23 7 7 71 36 35
2 Bordeaux 74 37 22 8 7 63 36 27

3 Nancy 60 37 15 15 7 42 27 15

4 Marseille 59 37 16 11 10 54 42 12

5 Lille 56 37 13 17 7 44 31 13
6 Saint-Etienne 55 37 15 10 12 43 34 9
7 Rennes 55 37 15 10 12 44 42 2
8 Le Mans 53 37 14 11 12 43 45 -2
9 Nice 52 37 12 16 9 32 29 3
10 Caen 51 37 13 12 12 47 50 -3
11 Lorient 51 37 12 15 10 31 34 -3
12 Monaco 47 37 13 8 16 40 44 -4
13 Valenciennes 45 37 12 9 16 41 38 3
14 Sochaux 44 37 10 14 13 33 41 -8
15 Auxerre 44 37 12 8 17 32 49 -17
16 Paris-SG 40 37 9 13 15 35 44 -9
17 Toulouse 39 37 8 15 14 34 41 -7

18 Lens 39 37 9 12 16 41 50 -9
19 Strasbourg 35 37 9 8 20 31 51 -20
20 Metz 21 37 4 9 24 24 61 -37

kabbott

12-05-2008, 06:20 PM

Hey, BB Bob qu'est-ce qui se passe?

Maybe the play-offs are too much for you ...

Anyway, this is what happened last Saturday and it's still all to play for.

Matchday 37: Saturday round-up

Jean-Marc Furlan (pictured) is not smiling anymore - his Strasbourg side were relegated after a 4-1 thrashing at home to Caen. It's as you were at the top after wins for Lyon and Bordeaux over Nancy and Sochaux respectively.
Saturday 10 May 2008

Ligue 1, Matchday 37

Lyon 1
Andre Luiz (own goal) 63

Nancy 0

>> Match Stats

Lyon maintained their two-point lead at the top with a 1-0 win over third-placed Nancy – but it took an own goal to earn the points.

Despite needing a helping hand from the visitors Alain Perrin's Ligue 1 leaders were good value for the victory. They had the majority of the possession and created the better chances throughout the game.

Kader Keita came close in the first half but saw Jonathan Brison clear the shot off the line and Sidney Govou had a goal disallowed for a narrow offside decision shortly before the break. Just after the hour mark the six-times champions made the crucial breakthrough when Nancy goalkeeper Gennaro Bracigliano could only parry Juninho's free-kick and Andre Luiz put through his own net under pressure from Lyon defender Sebastien Squillaci.

Lyon were able to hold out for the final half-hour even though Nancy needed points in their chase for a Champions League place. The result means Lyon need only a point at Auxerre next weekend to be sure of retaining their title, while Nancy are in third place, a point ahead of Marseille.

Bordeaux 2
Fernando 45, Chamakh 59

Sochaux 0

>> Match Stats

Goals either side of half-time from Fernando and Marouane Chamakh kept Bordeaux within touching distance of leaders Lyon at the top of the table.

Needing a win to keep up the pressure on Lyon, Bordeaux attacked from the outset with former Manchester United striker David Bellion having a couple of early sighters. For the visitors, Stephane Dalmat and Stephane Pichot kept goalkeeper Mathieu Valverde on his toes with decent efforts.

But the decisive moment of the first half came virtually at its conclusion. Having won a corner through Gabriel Obertan, Bordeaux packed the penalty area for Wendel's delivery. The Brazilian's cross caused chaos in the Sochaux defence, and after a couple of half-clearances, the ball fell kindly to Fernando who gleefully smashed the ball past the helpless Teddy Richert.

If the first goal was fortunate, the second, 15 minutes after the restart was anything but. A brilliant nutmeg on the left wing by Benoit Tremoulinas left Pichot for dead, and the substitute then followed up by finding the head of Marouane Chamakh. Richert, again, had no chance and the game was effectively over.

Le Mans 0

Marseille 0

>> Match Stats

Marseille could only draw 0-0 at Le Mans and therefore missed a chance to reclaim third place.

Eric Gerets' visitors will curse home goalkeeper Yohann Pele, who produced a string of outstanding saves to thwart the away side. And even a numerical advantage failed to help Marseille's cause – defender Samuel Bouhours was sent off for a foul on Mathieu Valbuena on 51 minutes but Le Mans held out with an excellent defensive performance

Kanga Akale was guilty of a glaring mistake for the visitors in the first-half when he shot wide of an empty net after outstanding play from Mamadou Niang. After the interval it was Valbuena and Benoit Cheyrou who found Pele impossible to beat, as he produced two stunning stops to keep the scores level.

The goalless result means Marseille lie fourth, trailing Nancy by one point. That means they must do better than their rivals next weekend. Gerets' side hosts Strasbourg while Nancy entertain Rennes.

PSG 1
Clement 60

St Etienne 1
Perrin 44

>> Match Stats

PSG claimed a vital point in their battle against relegation to climb out of the bottom three with just one game to go.

Jeremy Clement notched his first Ligue 1 goal of the season as Paul Le Guen's side mounted a second-half fightback against in-form St Etienne.

The visitors took the lead just before the break when midfielder Loic Perrin reacted quickest after PSG goalkeeper Mickael Landreau made a superb save from a Dimitri Payet effort but could only push the ball into Perrin's path.

Shortly after the interval Bafetimbi Gomis missed a glorious chance to double St Etienne's lead and was made to pay when Clement equalised. Sylvain Armand puts in a cross, Clement Chantome inadvertently flicked on towards Clement and he lashed the ball home.

The match opened up and both goalkeepers were forced into action in the closing stages, while Yannick Boli – who scored PSG's winner in their French Cup semi-final victory over Amiens this week – blazed a wonderful opportunity over the bar. But a draw was a fair result, and lifts PSG one point clear of Toulouse and Lens at the foot.

Lille 2
Cabaye 43, Frau 66

Lens 1
Monterrubio 69 pen

>> Match Stats

Lille came out on top of a fiercely contested derby at the Stade Metropole, handing Lens a defeat that drops them into the relegation zone ahead of next week's crunch game with title contenders Bordeaux.

Having taken charge after the shock departure of Guy Roux, management rookie Jean-Pierre Papin has been unable to change the fortunes of the Sang et Or. With two games to go, and the club's 17-year spell in the top flight under threat, Lens really could have done without a local derby away to a rejuvenated Lille side, and after a nervy start the formbook didn't lie, with the home side taking a deserved lead just before the break.

A neat move started by Michel Bastos saw Yohan Cabaye released by a clever ball from Jean Makoun, and the midfielder wasted no time in wrong footing Vedran Runje to open the scoring. It was his seventh goal of the season, all of which have come at Stade Metropole.

When Pierre-Alain Frau's diving header made it 2-0 midway through the second half, it looked all over for Papin's side. But just seconds later they were handed a lifeline when substitute Toifilou Maoulida was felled in the box by Lille goalkeeper Gregory Malicki and Olivier Monterrubio made no mistake from the spot. Try as they might, however, Lens just couldn't find an equaliser and now face an uphill task to stay in Ligue 1.

Rennes 2
Pagis 54, Mensah 73

Toulouse 1
Sirieix 11

>> Match Stats

Two second-half goals from Rennes condemned Toulouse to a potentially catastrophic defeat at the Stade de la Route de Lorient. The visitors had taken an early lead but now find themselves perilously close to the drop zone.

After a poor season in which they've been hampered by European participation and the loss of several key players through injury, Elie Baup's side needed a strong performance against Rennes. And when they took the lead as early as the 11th minute, it appeared they may be getting out of trouble.

The goal was created by the trickery of Fode Mansare. The Guinea international outfoxed two Rennes players before pulling the ball back for Francois Sirieix to ram the ball home and give the visitors a priceless lead. It was the midfielder's first goal in almost three seasons, and the 27-year-old will surely never score a more important one.

At least, that was the way it appeared until Rennes found a way back into the game just after the interval. And what a goal it was: yet another pinpoint ball from Jerome Leroy found Mickael Pagis and the striker brilliantly backheeled the ball into the net.

Worse was to follow for Toulouse when Rennes scored a second with just 15 minutes left to play as John Mensah got on the end of a corner from Olivier Thomert to seal all three points for the home side. Defeat leaves Toulouse above 18th-placed Lens on goal difference with one game to go.

Strasbourg 1
Gameiro 23

Caen 4
Toudic 6, 84, Dos Santos own goal 12, Gouffran 31

>> Match Stats

Strasbourg were relegated from Ligue 1 as Caen thrashed them 4-1 on their own pitch at Stade de la Meinau. This was their 10th straight defeat, which is why they've slipped straight back down to Ligue 2 at the first attempt.

An early goal from Julien Toudic set the tone and les Alsaciens were never really in the match. The second goal summed up Strasbourg's luck as goalkeeper Stephane Cassard punched out Gregory Proment's free-kick but the ball hit Strasbourg defender Manuel Dos Santos and went straight in the net.

Kevin Gameiro briefly gave the host hope when he scored following excellent work by Alvaro Santos and James Fanchone on 23 minutes, but the optimism lasted only 11 minutes. Cedric Hengbart fed Yoan Gouffran from the right flank and the striker tapped the ball home for his 10th goal of the season to make the score 3-1.

Alvaro Santos hit the post as Strasbourg fought back in the second-half but they needed three goals to maintain their hopes of staying up and never looked likely to get them. Toudic then grabbed his second to wrap up an emphatic win for Caen six minutes from time to seal Strasbourg's fate in emphatic fashion.

Monaco 3
Bakar 48, Nene 75, Meriem 82

Auxerre 0

>> Match Stats

Monaco beat Auxerre 3-0 in a match that turned out to be meaningless for both sides.

While neither side was mathematically safe from relegation at the start of the play, the failure of the sides below to win guaranteed Ligue 1 status for Monaco and Auxerre.

Not that Monaco were taking any chances at the Stade Louis II. After a tight first half, the home side finally began to carry some attacking threat, and when Jeremy Menez placed a quick free kick on the head of Djamel Bakar, they had the lead.

Menez, a half-time substitute, was proving the difference between the two sides; his neat one-two with another substitute, Nene, set up the Brazilian to double the advantage. A brilliant third goal from Camel Meriem capped a great night for the Principality side.

Valenciennes 1
Savidan 89 pen

Nice 2
Ederson 49, Kone 57

>> Match Stats

Two goals in the space of seven minutes at the start of the second half condemned Valenciennes to defeat in their final home game of the season.

With little to play for at Stade Nungesser, neither side seemed able to rouse themselves in a torpid first half. But just after the break, the crowd was finally treated to some worthwhile action when Brazilian Ederson opened the scoring with a precise finish.

Just moments later it was 2-0 as the brilliant Ivorian Bakary Kone sped clear and buried the ball past Nicolas Penneteau to claim his 13th goal of the season. Steve Savidan pulled one back for Valenciennes late on - also his 13th of the campaign - but it was too little, too late for the home side.

Metz 1
B Gueye 33

Lorient 2
Saifi 45, Abriel 66

>> Match Stats

Lorient came from behind to win a hugely entertaining match at Stade Saint-Symphorien.

Babacar Gueye opened the scoring for the hosts but Lorient had already had chances to find the net, with Rafik Saifi seeing an effort disallowed in the sixth minute. He then netted the equaliser in injury-time at the end of the first half to take his tally to 13 for the season.

Midfielder Fabrice Abriel put the visitors ahead with a clever shot on 66 minutes to give Christian Gourcuff's side a deserved win, even though Metz came close to earning a point when Gueye's free-kick came back off the bar 11 minutes from time.

BB Bob

12-05-2008, 07:20 PM

Desole! Trop de travail! And my computer at home is donald ducked (that's a technical phrase) so I'm having to use a laptop and I have no idea how to put the accents in!

Good weekends results (although not for my guesses comme toujours). Lyon needing 1 point now, assuming Bordeaux don't win by 8, although they are playing Lens so who knows! Doesn't bode too well for a CPFC BBS trip to Lens next year - we'll have to Eurostar it to Lille. PSG are away to Sochaux who have nothing to play for and Toulouse are home to Valenciennes who look like they are already sur la plage.

I did read l'equipe, though, today. You can probably fill in the blanks kabbott, but player of the year was Benzema (who thanked his parents and his favourite rap artist), young player of the year was Ben Arfa and top goalie was Steve Mandanda. Valbuena got goal of the season for his effort against Caen.

kabbott

12-05-2008, 09:15 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Desole! Trop de travail! And my computer at home is donald ducked (that's a technical phrase) so I'm having to use a laptop and I have no idea how to put the accents in!

Good weekends results (although not for my guesses comme toujours). Lyon needing 1 point now, assuming Bordeaux don't win by 8, although they are playing Lens so who knows! Doesn't bode too well for a CPFC BBS trip to Lens next year - we'll have to Eurostar it to Lille. PSG are away to Sochaux who have nothing to play for and Toulouse are home to Valenciennes who look like they are already sur la plage.

I did read l'equipe, though, today. You can probably fill in the blanks kabbott, but player of the year was Benzema (who thanked his parents and his favourite rap artist), young player of the year was Ben Arfa and top goalie was Steve Mandanda. Valbuena got goal of the season for his effort against Caen.

We reckon down here in Lyon that Lens will be up for it and give Bordeaux a bad time. A little winner in the final minutes by ex-Lyonnais Eric Carrière to spoil Laurent Blanc's night. Or a special performance from Benzema to prove he really is the best this year, before going on to bigger things. Oh, by the way, you missed a superb performance by Président Aulas after Saturday's match against Nancy in an interview with Canal + where he slagged them and basically all journalists off for reporting that Perrin was on his way out at the end of the season. So the commentator says to him innocently, ''So Alain Perrin will be staying next season?'' to which Aulas replies, ''We'll talk about that at the end of the season.'' Pauvre mec! Actually if you read L'Equipe today, you would have seen their conclsion is that Lyon's lack of popularity in France compared to Marseille and even PSG and to a lesser extent St. Etienne is all down to Aulas. He can be a real pr**k at times, even though he has brought Lyon to where they are now. Vive samedi soir!

BB Bob

12-05-2008, 09:23 PM

Is it right that the league put on two linesmen (sorry, assistant refs) from Bordeaux for Lyons game on saturday? Doh!

kabbott

12-05-2008, 10:02 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
Is it right that the league put on two linesmen (sorry, assistant refs) from Bordeaux for Lyons game on saturday? Doh!

They did and of course Lyon complained and they were changed. Who's to say these assistant refs weren't secretly Lyon fans who came from down that way and that the new ones from Lille, for example, aren't Bordeaux fans? A bit silly of the FFF all the same.

Another story. French officials are getting twitchy at the idea of PSG getting relegated next weekend and then seeing them, and more importantly , their 'fans' coming to the final of the Coupe in a more than hostile ambiance. Now that could be fun! Bonne nuit. A demain pour le crunch à Bristol.

GodstoneEagle

12-05-2008, 10:08 PM

Well, my two favourite french sides are PSG and Toulouse but it looks like one of them has to go. :(

For me it has to be Toulouse, leaving the questions over their stars.

Where will the following go?

Mathieu
Ebondo
Emana
Gignac
and most importantly Elmander

I had heard St. Ettiene had confirmed the signing of Bergognoux, is this true?

BB Bob

13-05-2008, 07:36 AM

The bookies favourite to go down is probably Lens, but it really could be any of the three. I think the druid needs to make up some magic potion nad maybe, just maybe, if the Stade Felix Bollaert gets rocking, Lens can get something from the game. It's so tight at the bottom (snigger), that one point may be enough. Goal differences are Toulouse (-7), PSG (-9) and Lens (-9).

I hadn't heard about Bergognoux going to ASSE. Maybe kabbott can throw some light on that. I did read that they were going to sign Matsui from Le Mans in the off season on a free. That's a good signing IMHO - he always catches my eye when they play.

As for the Toulouse stars, I suspect several of them will be off whatever happens. Elmander has been a bit injury prone this year, though, and while he scores some cracking goals, he had a long lean spell this year. Maybe that was just the team as a whole though.

kabbott

17-05-2008, 02:38 PM

Twitchy bottoms this side of the Manche today. Of course, like an idiot, I've got a housewarming do to attend tonight and I doubt somehow that the T.V. will be on, so I'll be relying on text messages etc. to keep up with what's going on.
As far as transfers go, I've heard absolutely nothing about Bergognoux going anywhere. He's done nothing since arriving at Toulouse. Shame because he was a great talent at Lyon. He definitely needs a change of air. Knew nothing about Matsui either. In today's L'Equipe, it is mentioned that Hugo Lloris and AC Milan have reached an agreement, but more importantly Nice and AC Milan haven't! Lloris would be interseted in a move to Lyon but only if Coupet were to leave. Coupet wanted to keep his future plans quiet, but he dropped a few hints to an agent 'friend' of his and it came out in the press that he might be interested in a move to the States! Nobody really knows what is going on at Lyon and there is talk of a lot of the 'historic' backroom staff might be on the way out, including ex-international and goalkeeping coach Joël Bats. If Bats goes, Coupet will probably go, but somehow I can't see that happening. It is also mentioned that Spurs are interested in Lyon player, Loïc Rémy who is currently on loan at Lens.

Anyway, back to tonight, just hoping that Lyon do the business and become the first European club in a major league to win their championship for a record seventh time. Allez l'OL!

Here is some news about tonight's games ...

No margin for error now!
It's the final countdown - Matchday 38 is where every remaining issue will be decided. At the top, Lyon and Bordeaux fight for the title, while Nancy and Marseille contest third, and Lille, St Etienne and Rennes battle for Europe.
Right now domestic prestige is the main target - but the ultimate prize is European glory, and here we take a look at what each club must do to assure themselves of a place amongst the continent's elite next season.

PSG's League Cup victory has already guaranteed the capital club a place in the UEFA Cup next season. Furthermore, the fact that Paul Le Guen's side have reached their second domestic final of the season – the French Cup – where they will play Lyon means that a second UEFA Cup place has become available via the league. The fifth placed team will now play in the UEFA Cup alongside the fourth placed team and PSG. 

1 Lyon

Les Gones have long been certain of a UEFA Champions League spot next season thanks to what seemed for so long an unassailable lead at the top of the table. Next season will be Lyon's ninth consecutive camapign in the top tier of European competition. They have never breached the quarter-final barrier, however, having failed in 2004, 2005 and 2006 to reach the last four. More importantly in the short term, they only realistically need a draw in their final match away to Auxerre to be certain of their seventh successive title.

2 Bordeaux

Laurent Blanc's men are also assured of a place at the European top table in season 2008/09 after a hugely successful campaign. Next year will be only their second experience of the UEFA Champions League having reached the Second Group Stage of the competition in 1999/2000. They go to Lens for their final game, and must hope they can win and that Lyon slip up at Auxerre.

3 Nancy

Should they maintain their one point gap over Marseille in fourth, Pablo Correa's side will make history by entering the UEFA Champions League for the first time next season. To do so they must at least match Marseille's result on the final day. They are home to Rennes, and if they are successful they will enter the hat for the Third Qualifying Round, the same stage of the competition that saw Toulouse lose 5-0 on aggregate this season to Liverpool.

4 Marseille

OM hold the distinction of being French football's only winner of the UEFA Champions League. Their victory in 1993 over AC Milan was the first in the rebranded competition. Two years earlier – in the European Champion Clubs' Cup - they lost in the final against Red Star Belgrade. In all, Marseille have appeared nine times in one or other of the European Cup formats and are gunning for a tenth.

To do so, they must hope that Nancy drop points while they themselves pick up the maximum - which they can expect to do - at home to a Strasbourg side which has lost ten straight on its way to Ligue 2. If they fail to overhaul Nancy and finish fourth, they are at least already guaranteed a place in the UEFA Cup next season.

5 Lille

They won't be able to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, but les Dogues are in pole position for the last UEFA Cup place after a remarkable turnaround in their season. Only two months ago they were concerned about keeping clear of relegation - now a win at Lorient in their final game will guarantee them a that UEFA Cup place.

6 Saint-Etienne

Les Verts are France's most experienced European campaigners having played 73 matches in continental competition. With ten European Cup seasons to their name Saint-Etienne have a slim chance of making it 11 next season. They need a favour from Lorient, and hope that their own solid home form can see them through their final day date with Monaco.

7 Rennes

Denied a place in the UEFA Champions League last season by one point, les Rennais' look as though they will have another near miss. For them to make the UEFA Cup place, both Saint-Etienne and Lille must drop points - while Rennes themselves have a tough assignment at Nancy..

kabbott

17-05-2008, 02:43 PM

Oh and let's not forget what's happening at the (twitchy) bottom end of the table. I can see last minute drama here but I wouldn't like to say which way it will go.

Relegation: Now it's one from three
After the Matchday 37 shuffle, the picture at the bottom is now slightly clearer - but none the less dramatic, because it's now certain that one out of big names PSG, Lens and Toulouse, will go under the Strasbourg and Metz - with Lens in most difficulty.
Lorient, Valenciennes, Caen… they are just a few of the so-called smaller clubs who can look forward to another season of Ligue 1 football in 2008-09.  

But the same cannot be said for traditionally powerful outfits PSG, Toulouse and Lens – at least not yet. That trio of big clubs are among the names battling to avoid relegation to Ligue 2 as the season reaches a tense and thrilling climax – for neutrals, in any case – at the foot of the table. 

Here's our rundown of the three teams battling to avoid the drop - and our assessment of what went wrong for the two already definitely down.

16 PSG  

A draw against St Etienne on Matchday 37 could have been better - but could have been worse. However, at the start of the season, who would have who would have bet on PSG being in peril with just one game to go? Coach Paul Le Guen and president Alain Cayzac were aiming to finish among the European places, but the club has stumbled and stuttered all season, with Cayzac resigning a fortnight ago. The capital outfit have won the Coupe de la Ligue and reached the Coupe de France final, but even clinching two domestic trophies would be little consolation if they are relegated for the first time in their history. PSG face go to already-safe, but much-improved Sochaux for their day of reckoning - but the situation is even bleaker for Lens (see below) so PSG will be nervously confident.  

17 Toulouse  

Toulouse finished third in Ligue 1 last season so their presence among the relegation candidates is a huge surprise. A heavy fixture calendar, caused by their participation in the Champions League and then the UEFA Cup, coupled with a crippling injury list, are the reasons for their demise. A vital point at home to PSG (1-1) meant they stayed, temporarily, above Paul Le Guen's side on goal difference but their subsequent 2-1 stumble at Rennes was another setback and they will be eternally grateful to the fixtures computer for giving them a home game against long-faded Valenciennes on the final day.  

18 Lens  

Lens were widely tipped to challenge Lyon for the title but Guy Roux, appointed last summer, lasted less than two months as coach before making way for Jean-Pierre Papin. Former Lens manager Daniel Leclercq was recruited to work alongside Ligue 1 rookie Papin in January, but his arrival has made no improvement to Lens' fortunes. Les Sang et Or dropped into the bottom three with the 2-1 defeat away to neighbours Lille on the penultimate day - and now they are really staring down the barrel of a very big gun. To have even a hope of survival they take at least a point from their home game against Bordeaux, who have taken the title chase right down to the wire and are sure to be gung-ho for the win they desperately need for another reason.

19 Strasbourg (Relegated)  

It's clear why Strasbourg are now certain to finish 19th and are heading back to Ligue 2 – they have lost their last 10 games, a club record and one of the worst runs of any Ligue 1 side in recent memory. Jean-Marc Furlan's promoted outfit played impressively during the first half of the campaign but ran out of steam two months early and are now certain of relegation. Their last game, away to Marseille is academic.  

20 Metz (Relegated)  

Metz have been bottom of the table since matchday 4 last August and it came as no surprise when their fate was eventually sealed with a 2-1 defeat against Marseille on April 12. To their credit, however, they have played some excellent football during the second-half of the campaign under Yvon Pouliquen and refused to roll over despite being doomed, their hard-working 0-0 draw at Sochaux last weekend being a case in point. President Carlo Mo0linari will be disappointed to see his club back in Ligue 2 12 months after promotion, but if they can hold on to their young stars, such as Miralem Pjanic and Rudy Gestede, they will have a chance of an immediate return.

HOW IT WORKS OUT

Here's the equation: If PSG and Toulouse both win, Lens will be down - unless they win by a three-goal better margin than Toulouse. If PSG and Toulouse were to both draw, Lens would only be safe with a win. If Toulouse and PSG were to lose, a draw would see Lens safe at the expense of both the others - Toulouse on points and PSG on goal difference.

TRIVIA NOTE

If PSG were to be relegated, Paris would be the only European capital without at least one football team in their country's top division.

GodstoneEagle

17-05-2008, 03:48 PM

Originally posted by BB Bob
The bookies favourite to go down is probably Lens, but it really could be any of the three. I think the druid needs to make up some magic potion nad maybe, just maybe, if the Stade Felix Bollaert gets rocking, Lens can get something from the game. It's so tight at the bottom (snigger), that one point may be enough. Goal differences are Toulouse (-7), PSG (-9) and Lens (-9).

I hadn't heard about Bergognoux going to ASSE. Maybe kabbott can throw some light on that. I did read that they were going to sign Matsui from Le Mans in the off season on a free. That's a good signing IMHO - he always catches my eye when they play.

As for the Toulouse stars, I suspect several of them will be off whatever happens. Elmander has been a bit injury prone this year, though, and while he scores some cracking goals, he had a long lean spell this year. Maybe that was just the team as a whole though. daisuke matsui? interesting. talented player

BB Bob

17-05-2008, 03:52 PM

Baros has just come on for Pompey - I don't think Franjce ever saw the best of him, but he always was an idle so and so. Personally, I'd like to see Lens beat bordeaux but I'm biased as it's the.easiest xlub to get to from calais! And psg down? That would be too sweet!!!

kabbott

17-05-2008, 05:22 PM

Just been talking to a St Etienne supporter who said that Matsui has already signed for them.

I too would like Lens to stay up and PSG to go down. Their fans deserve it (I mean both sets!).

BB Bob

17-05-2008, 05:43 PM

You'll have to keep me in touch tonight. I'm out for a night on the town in bournemouth (if that is possible) with mrs bbb!!!

kabbott

18-05-2008, 09:49 AM

Well the bottom didn't even have time to twitch. Benzema's goal after 27 seconds and Fred's second after about 10 minutes put an end to any suspense. I actually saw the first goal as I was walking past a bar on the way to my 'do'. I also walked past the main square, Place Bellecour, (which had the giant screen installed) which was filling up nicely. There was no excessive celebration at the final whistle: a bit of shouting in the streets and cars klaxoning, but Lyon is a pretty bourgeois city so nothing OTT. Tears for Lens, however. PSG got out of jail. There were rucks between PSG fans and themselves, not for the first time, and they were also heard to be singing 'nice' anti-Lens songs again. Incorrigible!

kabbott

18-05-2008, 09:54 AM

Matchday 38: Saturday round-up
What a night for Djibril Cisse and Marseille - he scores twice as they beat Strasbourg 4-3 to qualify for the Champions League. Lyon wrap up the title with a comfortable win over Auxerre. PSG are safe - it's Lens who go down.
Saturday 17 May 2008
Ligue 1, Matchday 38

Auxerre 1
Thomas 77

Lyon 3
Benzema 1, Fred 10, Kallstrom 53

Lyon secured a seventh consecutive league title in fine style, comprehensively outplaying Auxerre at Stade Abbe-Deschamps.

If anybody doubted whether the champions could see off the challenge of second-placed Bordeaux with a win here, Alain Perrin's side immediately came up with an answer. After just 10 minutes the game, and the threat to the their title, was over. First Karim Benzema picked up the ball in a central position, played a one-two with Fred and then planted the ball past the helpless Remy Riou to put the Ligue 1 leaders ahead. It was the 20th league goal of an incredible season for the much-coveted young striker.

It got even better for the visitors on 10 minutes. This time Benzema turned provider, sending Kader Keita clear on the right. The Ivorian's cross was perfect, as was Fred's left-footed half-volley from a tight angle.

With the pressure off, Lyon's attacking triumvirate carved out a number of further opportunities to increase the scoreline, with only good goalkeeping and profligate finishing keeping it 2-0. Early in the second half, however, Sweden midfielder Kim Kallstrom made it three, getting on the end of a precise cross from Anthony Reveillere. Frederic Thomas grabbed a late consolation goal, but nothing could spoil the Lyon party.

Lens 2
Monterrubio 68 pen, Maoulida 83

Bordeaux 2
Cavenaghi 65, Bellion 8

Lens were relegated from the top flight following a 2-2 draw at home to title-chasers Bordeaux.

The hosts knew they needed a win to realistically avoid the drop while the visitors needed a victory to have any chance of claiming the title. However, Lyon's 3-1 win at Auxerre put paid to les Girondins' hopes of landing the Ligue 1 prize for the first time since 1999.

With so much at stake for both sides it was no surprise that the first-half was a tight affair but the game burst into life after the break. Bordeaux's 14-goal leading scorer Fernando Cavenaghi hit the bar with a delicate lob seven minutes after the restart and broke the deadlock on 65 minutes when he finished coolly after a magnificent exchange of passes with midfielder Fernando and strike partner Marouane Chamakh. The lead lasted just three minutes, though, because Lens earned a penalty when Franck Jurietti felled Abdoul Boukari in the box and Olivier Monterrubio converted from the spot for his ninth goal of the season.

With the score at 1-1 Lens had hopes of avoiding the drop but Bordeaux regained the lead via David Bellion following another superb team move on 82 minutes. It was the former Manchester United man's 12th goal of the season. Back came Lens again, this time Toifilou Maoulida equalising almost instantly. Sadly for the packed home crowd, however, the Sang et Or were unable to score the winner that would have given them renewed hope of avoiding relegation – in the end, the result proved academic as wins for Toulouse and PSG meant Lens would have gone down anyway.

Sochaux 1
Ndaw 74

PSG 2
Diane 23, 83

Two goals from Amara Diane preserved PSG's Ligue 1 status after a nerve-jangling encounter at Sochaux.

After a mixed season that has seen Paul Le Guen's side lift the Coupe de la Ligue and stand the chance of claiming a second piece of silverware thanks to qualifying for the Coupe de France final next weekend, the capital club went into the final round of matches in the unexpected position of not yet being sure of their Ligue 1 future. Last week's draw with St Etienne might have been a disappointment at the time, but it proved an invaluable point as it ensured a slender advantage over the other two clubs also facing the drop, Lens and Toulouse.

Once again it was Amara Diane who proved the difference for PSG. The Ivorian striker was a constant threat, and it was little surprise when he opened the scoring midway through the first half. The goal did have an element of good fortune, though, with Diane's shot going through the legs of the Sochaux captain Jeremie Brechet before whistling past the helpless Teddy Richert.

Sochaux's equaliser with 20 minutes to go would have set pulses racing on the PSG bench, but with Lens failing to beat Bordeaux, there was still a cushion at the bottom. In the end, though, it mattered not because Diane rose to the occasion yet again, grabbing the winner late on to finally give the beleagured Le Guen something to smile about.

Toulouse 2
Mathieu 3, Sirieix 75

Valenciennes 1
Audel 38

Toulouse retained their Ligue 1 status for next season thanks to a 2-1 victory over Valenciennes.

Midfielder Pantxi Sirieix – who hadn't scored in four years before last weekend – grabbed the winner 15 minutes from time, which means Elie Baup's side finish the season in 17th place, one place above the drop zone.

Utility man Jeremy Mathieu opened the scoring on three minutes but nerves started to jangle for the hosts when Johan Audel equalised seven minutes before the break, getting on the end of a Steve Savidan assist to net his ninth goal of the season.

Home fans anxiously followed results elsewhere but knew their fate would remain in their own hands as long as they won and Sirieix – who scored Toulouse's goal in the 2-1 defeat at Rennes last Saturday – duly delivered when his powerful shot beat Valenciennes goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau. Rudy Mater hit the bar for the visitors moments later but it eventually proved irrelevant, since Lens' 2-2 home draw with Bordeaux meant just a point would have been good enough for Toulouse. But the home side were delighted to finish a gruelling season with a win, their first on home soil in 2008.

Marseille 4
Niang 6, Cisse 45, 78, Nasri 45

Strasbourg 3
Fanchone 10, Gameiro 19, Zenke 72

Marseille won one of the games of the season against Strasbourg to overhaul third-placed Nancy and claim the final spot in next season's Champions League. Two goals from former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse, including a late winner, ensured l'OM came out on top in this seven-goal thriller.

Marseille made the perfect start, with Mamadou Niang notching his 18th Ligue 1 goal of the season when he beat Stephane Cassard with a neat finish. But the joy on the Marseille bench was shortlived, as Strasbourg equalised four minutes later. The visitors produced a brilliant piece of attacking play, with captain Rodrigo splitting the Marseille defence to present James Fanchone with a straightforward goalscoring chance. Worse followed nine minutes later when France U21 striker Kevin Gameiro superbly exchanged passes with Eric Mouloungui that before showing great composure to rattle home his sixth goal of the season.

But Marseille always have goals in them, and managed to regain the lead in remarkable fashion deep into first half injury time. More than five minutes of extra time were played following a clash of heads between Niang and Cassard (both were substituted) and Marseille took full advantage by scoring two goals.

The first came about when replacement goalkeeper Nicolas Puydebois fouled Samir Nasri in the box. The stand-in number one saved Djibril Cisse's spot-kick only for the ball to rebound to the striker, who scored at the second attempt. Seconds later the score was 3-2 to Marseille as Nasri beautifully converted a cross from substitute Elliot Grandin.

There was late drama when Strasbourg equalised through Simon Zenke with 18 minutes to go, stunning the Velodrome crowd. But one final twist occurred when Cisse raced clear 12 minutes from time and finished brilliantly to claim his 16th Ligue 1 goal of the season. With Nancy losing at home to Rennes, third place was Marseille's, completing a remarkable climb up the table over the past six months.

Nancy 2
Malonga 7, Andre Luiz 55

Rennes 3
Mbia 32, Pagis 48, 58

Nancy's hopes of a first-ever appearance in the Champions League were dashed at the final hurdle as Rennes came from behind to with at Stade Marcel Picot, leaving Pablo Correa's side with the consolation of a place in the UEFA Cup.

Things had begun perfectly for the home side, with Francis Malonga making an early breakthrough. But when Stephane Mbia brought Rennes level on the half-hour, nodding in from a corner, Nancy began to look nervous in the face of extreme pressure.

A strike just after the break from Mickael Pagis looked to have shattered the home side's confidence and although they did well to hit back straight away through Brazilian Andre Luiz, Marseille's winning position against Strasbourg meant that victory was imperative. In going for the win Nancy inevitably left spaces at the back and when Pagis grabbed his second just minutes later, Nancy's dream was over. For Rennes, though, Europe also beckons, with a place in the Intertoto Cup their reward for an excellent win.

St Etienne 4
Gomis 4, 7, Dernis 33, Feindouno 81

Monaco 0

Bafetimbi Gomis struck twice as St Etienne dramatically clinched a UEFA Cup place with a stunning 4-0 win over Monaco.

The big striker was the architect of this excellent victory as his two goals in the opening 10 minutes – taking his Ligue 1 tally to 16 for the season – put Laurent Roussey's side into Europe next season.

St Etienne knew their fate wasn't in their own hands but they concentrated on winning while hoping that Lille dropped points. Lille's 1-1 draw at Lorient and this victory meant St Etienne finished fifth on 58pts, with Lille one place below on 57pts.

Gomis' two goals were typical of the player, as he found space in the area and finished cleanly against a lackadaisical Monaco defence who performed as though they had nothing to play for. Gomis then turned provider to set up Geoffrey Dernis for les Verts' third goal on 33 minutes.

The result was clearly a foregone conclusion in the second-half and the pace visibly dropped before Pascal Feindouno rounded off a memorable evening with a fourth goal for the home side nine minutes from time.

Lorient 1
Saifi 43

Lille 1
Michel Bastos 55

After a stirring late charge for a place in Europe, Lille fell short ion the final day as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Lorient at Stade du Moustoir.

Lorient had nothing to play for but Christian Gourcuff's side gave a good account of themselves,and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring just before the break.

The identity of the goalscorer was also no great shock. Rafik Saifi's form has been sensational this season and he signed off in style with a sumptuous 14th goal of the campaign. Lille - doubtless knowing the St Etienne and Rennes were both winning - kept plugging away and were rewarded when Brazilian midfielder Michel Bastos gave his side an equaliser from a quickly taken corner after the break. But try as they might, Lille just couldn't force a winner and missed out on Europe altogether, slipping from fifth to seventh, to finish behind St Etienne and Rennes.

Metz 4
Barbosa 3, Pjanic 13, B Gueye 34, Bessat 84

Le Mans 3
De Melo 51, Delhommeau own goal, Baal 85

Metz bid fareweel to Ligue 1 on a winning note with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Le Mans at Stade Saint-Symphorien.

Yvon Pouliquen's hosts, who were already relegated, raced into a three-goal lead at half-time and survived Le Mans' second-half fightback to claim three points in one match for only the fifth time this season.

Cedric Barbosa netted the opener and Miralem Pjanic doubled their lead on 13 minutes before Babacar Gueye grabbed his sixth goal of the season shortly after the half-hour mark to send the home fans delirious. Matters got worse for Le Mans on 41 minutes when substitute defender Jean Calve – on the field for only six minutes - was sent off for a professional foul on Barbosa.

It was to Le Mans' credit, therefore, that they mounted a spirited comeback after the break. Departing striker De Melo, who joins Serie A club Palermo in the summer, netted his 13th goal of the season on 51 minutes before a deflected Mathieu Coutadeur shot - credited as an own goal by Metz defender Pascal Delhommeau - further reduced the deficit on 65 minutes. Vincent Bessat restored Metz's two-goal advantage on 84 minutes but Ludovic Baal ensured a dramatic finale with a third goal for Le Mans moments later. Despite their best efforts, however, Le Mans were unable to find an equaliser. Metz leave Ligue 1 with their heads held high, while Le Mans finish ninth, which is their highest-ever Ligue 1 position.

Nice 3
Hellebuyck 25, Ederson 57 pen, Kone 84

Caen 1
Toudic 44

Nice hero Ederson signed off with a goal as the home side ran out 3-1 winners over Caen in a match with nothing but pride at stake.

The 22-year-old Brazilian, one of the most skilful players in France;s top division, moves to champions Lyon this summer and left fans with something to remember when he notched from the penalty spot in the 57th minute. David Hellebuyck had opened the scoring in spectacular fashion for the hosts, lobbing home one of the goals of the season from 50 yards following a poor clearance from Caen's stand-in goalkeeper Benoit Costil. The visitors equalised just before half-time when Julien Toudic showed some neat control and a cool head in the penalty area to net his third goal in two games.

The game ebbed and flowed after the break and after Ederson's goal Ivory Coast striker Bakary Kone took his tally to 14 for the season when he converted Hellebuyck's pass six minutes from time. The win means Nice finish the season in eighth place while Caen end up a creditable 11th on their return to the top flight.