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LIGUE 1 TEAM PREVIEWS
OLYMPIQUE LYONNAIS
Coach: Claude Puel (Fra)
A player with Monaco for 18 years, he started his managerial career at the same club, before a six-year stint at Lille. His successes there led him to being appointed as the fourth Lyon coach in as many years. The pressure on Puel this season, and all the recent coaches at Lyon, rests on achieving what is proving to be elusive European success. Puel has some degree of experience on this front, but is he the man to deliver a concerted Champions League assault?
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Recent record: (Pos); Pl; W-D-L; F-A; Pts
2007/08: (1st); 38; 24-7-7; 74-37; 79
2006/07: (1st); 38; 24-9-5; 64-27; 81
2005/06: (1st); 38; 25-9-4; 73-31; 84
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Transfers, Loans, Retirements...
IN: Piquionne (Monaco, FW); Mensah (Rennes, DF); Makoun (Lille, MF); Ederson (Nice, MF); Lloris (Nice, GK); Pjanic (Metz, MF);
OUT: Coupet (Atletico Madrid, GK); Squillaci (Sevilla, DF); Belhadj (Lens, DF); Ben Arfa (Marseille, MF); Remy (Nice, FW);
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Star Player:
Once again, they have a number of top-class players anyone of which could be the star player. However, the talisman remains Juninho, now into his eighth season at the club. His creativity and leadership has been crucial in Lyon's dominant period in the French game and his free-kicks and attacking instinct have helped him hit around 10 goals each league season. Despite being 33, there's no reason to expect anything less in 2008/09.
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Summary:
Whilst the presence of veteran goalkeeper Coupet will be missed, the young keeper from Nice, Hugo Lloris, should be a solid replacement, whilst the key players around the rest of the team remain the same. Last year's late season slump, where they nearly threw away the title, may be a cause for some concern, but the arrival of new coach Claude Puel should ensure the players don't dwell on any shortcomings from last season.
A first place is expected - their eighth title in a row - so the question for some may be by how much, but Bordeaux's surge at the end of last season and Marseille's transformation under Gerets could see a three-horse race; that is something Lyon have not experienced much in the last five years. Under some pressure last season they didn't perform well (though they did in the key 4-2 win over challengers Bordeaux with a few games to go).
Dynasties always come to an end and, with an increasing focus on the Champions League, this is perhaps the year that they slip up to a second-placed finish behind Marseille.
TO WIN LIGUE 1:
Bet on Lyon to win Ligue 1 : $1.67 @ Bet365
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Match Previews 20-22 December:
Betzine UK is covering just the 15 games this weekend, with the Bundesliga shutting for the winter break.
Among the games are Arsenal against Liverpool at The Emirates, plus Everton's hosting of Chelsea.
read the Previews...:
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*** BETZINE UK RECORD ***
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*** LATEST PROMOTIONS ***
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Paddy Power
London Calling! (Sun 31st Aug)
If Deco scores at anytime, Paddy Power will refund all losing 1st /last goalscorer, correct score & scorecast singles on the match.
Click to open an account with Paddy Power
Read more about the promotion HERE
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Weekend Match Reports
Links to the match reports of games in the Premiership, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga
HERE
Starting this season; news feed for ALL Premiership teams available on Betzine UK
Read the news section HERE
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