Let's say you're a talented player with a history of conflict with teammates and a reputation for having a bit of an attitude. You are left out of the starting lineup despite having scored in the past three games. Do you: A) Do everything you can to show by your behavior that you [...] Click to continue reading...

I know I normally do a post match write up after CL matches, but I'm running short of time and won't be able to do the usual photo and video fest. Plus most of what needed to be said has already been posted in the comments of this thread. So here are some additional thoughts:

1. Lyon are taking the concept of "the best defense is a good offense" a little too far.

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Remember how I said that China were becoming Lyon's new best friends? Well, it looks like Aulas takes this BFF business seriously because today Lyon launched a Chinese version of their official website, thanks to a partnership with TitanSport, a Chinese sports media giant.

Pretty soon OL will be signing token Chinese players a la Manchester United.

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It must have been quite a reunion for the 2Bs.

Oops, how did this picture get in here?

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It's international week, so things are rather quiet on the Lyon front. Here's what's been going on:

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Fabio Grosso is back in training and is expected to play against Lille on October 18th. This is good news because if he does well, he play against Steaua a few days later.

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These 3-0 losses are starting to turn into a yearly ritual. A humiliating one.

The game was so bad that Lyon's official website posted a highlight video that was only three minutes long - usually they are around twenty minutes. Watching it, I realized why. Apart from Mickael Pagis's three goals, not much else happened.

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Match pictures and highlights at the bottom of the post.

THE GOOD:

Definitely the man of the match...on both sides.

Hugo Lloris.

He's definitely shaken off the jitters that afflicted him in the Fiorentina match.

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Since Lyon have only one point so far - from a home game at that - it's crucial that they walk away with at least a point tomorrow evening in Munich. With Fiorentina taking on Steaua in Italy, it's likely the Italians will get three points, so unless Lyon want to hang out in the bottom of the group, a good performance tomorrow is a must.

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Rivals Manchester United and Manchester City are to lock horns in a battle to sign Lyon striker Karim Benzema. The French international has become of of Europe's hottest properties in recent months and he has caught the eye of both Mark Hughes and Sir Alex Ferguson in particular.

Lyon recently said they would not let Benzema leave for anything less than £80 million, a price that City could certainly meet now they are super rich. Click to continue reading...

It's (arguably) Google's 10th birthday today. Obviously a lot of readers find The Offside via Google, and most of the search terms that land people here are obvious and enough. Things like team names and player names. But not all of them. Here's a selection of some of the more interesting search terms that have bought people [. Click to continue reading...

According to L'Equipe, this is Lyon's best league start to a season since 2001/2002. Unbeaten in all their games, with five wins and a draw, they are already four points ahead of second placed Marseille. And despite having a defense that would make even the bravest of people whimper with fear, Lyon conceded only two goals so far, giving them the best defense in the league.

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Things are going well for the Eastlands outfit and Mark Hughes must feel like a child in a sweet shop. Now he is aiming for the icing on the cake! Don't forget to check out Online Football Manager! Manchester City are planning a sensational £25million swoop for Lyon striker Karim Benzema. Mark Hughes . Click to continue reading...

Ahhh, hopefully we can have a slight respite from the recent Franco-Italian war that has errupted in our comments section of the post-Lyon-Fiorentina CL match, and during the lull in hostilities, get back to enjoying some L1 action!

Saturday, Lyon travel to Le Stade Jules Deschaseaux in the the northwestern region of Haute-Normandie to take on one of this year's promoted clubs, Le Havre AC.

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Fiorentina had the French "Lion" almost tamed. In their nth rendez-vous with top European football (since the 2001-02 season, OL have won 7 consecutive Ligue 1 championships), Lyon started the match at ferocious pace, but after a couple whip-cracks by Alberto Gilardino (coupled with an almost flawless Viola defence) the beast had stopped roaring. Click to continue reading...

In lieu of a proper match review, I present you with this. Match highlights and photos at the end of the post.

1. When picking Brazilians, it's Ederson you want. Leave Fred behind with the rest of the garbage.

I don't mean to come off as a Fred hater, but did he accomplish ANYTHING in today's match - besides the countless times he squandered easy shots on goal?

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The UEFA Champions League action continues today across Europe, just a day after some shocking results turned the tournamant on its ear.

Roma's stunning loss to CFR Cluj and Werder Bremen's tie vs. Anorthosis Famagusta have all the remaining match favorites focusing a little more closely today.

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Sorry that this match preview is so late, but I've been on vacation for the last two weeks, and John, who has kindly been covering in my absence, is traveling as well. So this is going to be a little shorter than normal.

This is the fifth game of the season, and Lyon and Marseille are still tied for first place, with Marseille ahead due to more goals scored.

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Crikey, as we say in England. The reasons why Robinho was willing to relocate to Manchester suddenly become clear:

The 24-year-old has agreed a four-year contract that makes him the highest-paid footballer in the history of the game, with a weekly salary of £160,000.

For those of you not used to the quaint habit that British newspapers have of expressing multi-million pound salaries in a working-class "weekly wage" fashion, let's put it this way: that amounts to about $15 million a year. Click to continue reading...

One derby down, one to go. Sunday Lyon will be traveling to Le Stade Geoffroy-Guichard to take on A.S. St. Etienne in the second derby of the season. This is the 96th derby the two teams have participated in. After having handled Grenoble Foot 38 in the first derby, Lyon will have to contend with a St.

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Lyon defeated Toulouse 3-0 in their first game of the 2008-09 French Ligue 1 season. Karim Benzema netted twice and new signing Jean II Makoun scored once, but the French giants suffered a blow as rightback Francois Clerc ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the first half. Medical tests have revealed [. Click to continue reading...

Several players have been called up for international action next week. For many countries, this is the last opportunity to get things sorted before World Cup qualifiers start this fall.

France (vs. Sweden - 08/20/08): Hugo Lloris, Jean-Alain Boumsong, Jeremy Toulalan, Sidney Govou, Karim Benzema

Sweden (vs.

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Les Bleus will be traveling to Sweden for a friendly on August 20th, a game which will hopefully get the team ready for the World Cup qualifiers that will be starting soon.

There a lot of old faces on the squad, but there are also some players missing, including Franck Ribery and Francois Clerc, who are out injured, and Samir Nasri and Eric Abidal, who were dropped entirely.

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Soccer is coming back in many of the leagues throughout Europe. The English Premier League had a rather slow start with the Charity Shield game between Manchester United and Portsmouth, which ended 0-0 and then went to penalty kicks where Man U won easily.

In France, Lyon got off the a strong start, with Karim Benzema scoring 2 goals to lead them to a 3-0 victory over Toulouse. Click to continue reading...

A pair of goals by Karim Benzema helped Lyon begin their quest for eight straight French League titles with a 3-0 home win over Toulouse. Jean Makoun was also on the scoresheet for Les Gones. Last season's closest challengers Bordeaux, who beat Lyon in last weekend's season-opening Trophée des Champions, also got off on the right foot beating Caen 2-1. Click to continue reading...

Lyon's favorite son and patron saint of goal-scoring, Karim Benzema expressed his feelings about the upcoming season in a recent interview in L'Equipe. Karim speaks about the changes in the club this season, as well as his thoughts on his coaches- new and old- and his newfound superstar status on the pitch.

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I already posted about how Karim Benzema's face will be gracing the cover of the eagerly anticipated FIFA 09 video game (he and Wayne Rooney will apparently be on the European covers, with Franck Ribery as the "main" guy who appears worldwide).

My question is, why does Benzema look different in every picture?

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I wasn't planning a post on Lyon's supposed interest in Samuel Eto'o because I thought that these rumors would have blown away by now, but with my inbox flooded with over thirty google alerts in four different languages - in just one day - I guess I need to be more proactive about it.

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Caption this photo. I dare you.

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Lyon had their first summer friendly this afternoon against Nimes in Albertville. Goals were scored by Juninho (10), Yannis Tafer (40), and Anthony Mounier (63). This was Claude Puel's first match in charge, and for many of the players, their first match in an OL jersey.

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Disclaimer: I know that it's been a week now since Hatem Ben Arfa left Lyon for Marseille. Both John and Magnusson have covered this topic very thoroughly, so most of you are probably tired of hearing about it.

But I just can't let this go.

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As compiled Ali Martin writing in the Sun - in order of increasing floppiness.
10.The electrical storm that blew out the TV transmission of the Germany Turkey semifinal.
9.Karim Benzema
8.Adrian Mutu
7.Austria and Switzerland
6.Mario Gomez
5.Thierry Henry
4.

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Luca Toni's topping the charts again... only this time, it isn't very flattering. English tabloid The Sun just dished out another Top 10 list, regrouping the "Biggest flops" of this Summer's Euro championship tournament. The Italy striker tops the list, despite receiving a pat on the back from Bayern Munich chairman Karl Heinz Rummenigge. Click to continue reading...

It is at these big international tournaments that stars are made, and also where some starts fail to shine under the harsh lights. This years Euro 2008 has been no exception with these stars failing to live up to their press clippings. No 5: Karim Benzema The France striker has been a long-term target of Manchester United [. Click to continue reading...

Marseille are looking to seal a €12million (£9.5million) deal for a Lyon star who was heralded as the future of French football, along with team-mate Karim Benzema, only 4 months ago. Reports suggested that Premiership teams like Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester United had been tracking the player, but with this "sideways" move to Marseille on [. Click to continue reading...

I don't play video games. I've never owned a gaming system, nor have I ever wanted one. Online Literati is about all I'm capable of.

But from what I understand, soccer video games are huge. A lot of people use "Football Manager" as a way to judge players, and there is even a section of the Offside devoted to video games.

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