Sorry for the short preview, but it's been a crazy week for me. To keep things short, Lyon are traveling to Paris tomorrow, and three days later, they will be traveling to Fiorentina for a crucial Champions League match. Unfortunately, Lyon's injury list continues to grow, so it will be difficult for Puel to continue implementing his rotation policy to keep his players fresh.

Alternatively: Benzema vs. Gourcuff. Puel vs. Blanc. First vs. Second. The Lyon Offside vs. The Bordeaux Offside. Inara vs. Jennifer. Etc.

All you need to know is that tomorrow features two of France's heavyweights in a game that could directly influence the title, both in terms of points and in terms of psychology.

Claude Puel has more on his mind than just the three points up for grabs in Monaco this weekend. He's got a squad that's still exhausted from their efforts against Steaua, he has a run of gauntlet games coming up this entire month, and he's hyper aware of the fact that he needs to avoid injuries to players as much as possible.

I don't know about you guys, but I'm feeling cautiously optimistic about tomorrow's game. It's taken over three months, but Lyon are starting to play like the French champions they are. Players seem to be done screwing around, Claude Puel has finally found effective tactics, and even the injury list seems to be shortening by the day.

Juninho (from here and here):

I expected that I would play less this season, but I've played a lot so far, and I feel good. I also know that time is running out, with competition from younger players like Ederson or Pjanic, while other players are more important than me in the team.

Just who isn't injured? Of the ten players out, seven of them are starting players. Defensively, Lyon are once again in a crisis. They are down to their last men in terms of defense. Besides academy kids, Lyon have no backups at all. If anything happens to the players that are left, Lyon will be screwed.

I have a very low tolerence for "Diva-ish" behavior, no matter how talented a player may be. And as much as I dislike both of these immensly talented players, I decided to write a post because their fates may be intertwined- although higly unlikely- and I wouldn't mind seeing both of them possibly doing OL a big favor in the future, by negatively affecting the current #2 team in L1, Marseille.

Lyon are SO not ready for tomorrow. We've all seen how badly they've been playing the last few weeks...last month, really. Lyon haven't won a game in ages and have scored only a handful of goals from open play all season. I mean, how sad is it that their best chance of getting three points in Bucharest is to send their women's team out there?

Fred was very pissed yesterday when, as he was walking off the pitch during a substitution, he was booed rather voraciously by the home crowd at the Gerland. Sayz Fred:

"It's very difficult. Every time, it's the same thing - the fans are angry with me and whistle at me.

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.

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.

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.

Claude Puel says that the only game he's thinking about is tomorrow's game against Nancy, but we all know he's lying because next Tuesday is Lyon's crucial match against Bayern Munich, a game that Lyon need to get at least a draw in if they want to keep their hopes of qualifying for the round of 16.

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.

Time really flies, huh? It feels like only yesterday when Lyon had once again shot themselves in the foot against Manchester United. And remember those back to back 3-0 defeats, one to Barcelona (almost understandable) and the other to Rangers (practically inconceivable)? I guess you could say that last year's Champions League campaign has more bad memories than good ones.

Francois Clerc's "slight knock" to the knee ended up being more serious than everyone first thought. He's torn the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee, which means he'll be out for about five to six months.

Poor Clerc. Just when his career at Lyon and for Les Bleus was starting to take off.

Lyon's backline patrolman Cris has given a candid interview about former teammate Hatem Ben Arfa. Even though Inara wrote an excellent "cathartic" piece on HBA's departure and most of us have closed the file on Hatem's Lyon career, I thought this would be of interest.

As most of you probably know, Lyon have started their pre-season training at Tignes, a ski resort in the Alps on the Italian border. Lyon go there every year for high altitude workouts, which is supposed to make them really fit.

Both Lyon and the France NT train at Tignes yearly.

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.

As most of us already know, Hatem Ben Arfa has come to terms with Olympique de Marseille and for some of us, our worst fears have finally been realized. Like an amorous relationship you know just has to end, as much as it may hurt, you know it's for the best. But HBA's departure still stings, and leaves me with an empty feeling in the pit of my stomach, necessary as it may be.

I've totally been avoiding writing about this because part of me still believes that it's only a nightmare...But man, out of the eleven OL players in Euro 2008, only one will be showing his face in the quarterfinals.

I have nine other identical pictures just like this.

Word on the street is that Sevilla are very interested in Sebastien Squillaci - so interested that they have already made a €5m offer to Lyon and have come to an agreement with the player. Lyon have agreed to the transfer in principle but want more money from Sevilla.

Hugo Lloris has totally confused the media around on their ears. Four days ago, he was going to Milan. Then yesterday, he was going to Lyon. Today, he's going to Milan. But Lloris says that he'll decide where he's going tomorrow...

I think everyone who reads this blog knows that I've had my heart set on Lloris since like forever.

Someone please tell Fabio to stop taking fashion advice from Sidney.

Is this the day that Lyon end a 35 year dry spell in the Coupe de France?

Is this the day that Lyon win their first ever double?

Is this the day that Lyon finally rise above one of the worst injury crises in their history?

Is this the day that Lyon finally make us believe?

This is probably the worst kept secret over the last few days. Gregory Coupet has often been linked with a move abroad in the last few years. However, he never really wanted to leave...until now. We all knew something was up when rumors spread like wildfire after Coupet allegedly told two supporters yesterday that he was leaving.

The latest transfer news involving players. I'll have a post up later on Perrin and possible managers tomorrow.

Outgoing:

It's always the same old story with Sidney Govou. He starts talking about leaving, but he always ends up staying. This year is no different.

The latest transfer news involving players. I'll have a post up later on Perrin and possible managers tomorrow.

Outgoing:

It's always the same old story with Sidney Govou. He starts talking about leaving, but he always ends up staying. This year is no different.

Seems like his hard work has paid off. Patrick Muller has been included among the provisional 26 Swiss call ups for Euro 2008!

With the tournament being held in his native Switzerland, this call up is very important to Muller, who had originally feared that he would miss the Euro 2008 entirely back when he injured his knee ligament last fall.

Seems like his hard work has paid off. Patrick Muller has been included among the provisional 26 Swiss call ups for Euro 2008!

With the tournament being held in his native Switzerland, this call up is very important to Muller, who had originally feared that he would miss the Euro 2008 entirely back when he injured his knee ligament last fall.

The UEFA Under-17 Championship is in full swing, and whaddya know, France are in the semifinals. They finished second in their group (Spain got top spot because they scored one more goal), and so this afternoon, they will be taking on group winners Turkey for a place in the finals.

Our Lyon boys have been putting forth a fine display.

The UEFA Under-17 Championship is in full swing, and whaddya know, France are in the semifinals. They finished second in their group (Spain got top spot because they scored one more goal), and so this afternoon, they will be taking on group winners Turkey for a place in the finals.

Our Lyon boys are putting forth a fine display.

NOOOOOOOOO.

My very worst nightmare is coming true.

I'm a huge Hatem Ben Arfa fan. He has some faults, but I adore him. He's so talented and has so much potential. I just know he's going to be one of France's biggest stars.

A goodbye kiss?

Remember when I mentioned the UNFP Awards? Today, the ceremony took place.

Unsurprisingly, Karim Benzema won Player of the Year, beating out teammate Jeremy Toulalan, Marseille's Mahamadou Niang, and Bordeaux's Wendel.

I've been waiting a while to report this because all I've been seeing so far are whispered rumors, but now all the newspapers are reporting it, and the player himself was seen at Lyon last Wednesday. But neither the player nor the respective clubs have made a formal announcement, so don't get too excited yet.