Olympique Lyonnais vs. HNK Rijeka
Stade Gerland, Group Stages Matchday 3, Europa League 2013/14
When Jean-Michel Aulas took to discussing numbers this week, he sure left his ambitions at home. Reeling under financial pressures for the past few years, OL posted a year-through-to-June 2013 loss of 20 million Euros. While this is indeed a narrower figure compared to the ones previously (28 million euros, no less), Aulas rued having not cleared the Champions League Playoffs. We’d have attained financial ‘equilibrium’ had we gotten through to the Group stages, he said. So for now, the selling will likely continue. What’s worse, he nailed lady-rumour’s coffin by saying there would be NO major player acquisitions until we move to Grande Stade OL.
Y U NO Europa League?
It is under this backdrop, coupled with the minor hiccup of being placed at No. 11 in the league post the end of 25% of the season, that we approach the next Europa League game against Rijeka of Croatia. We have the honour of being Rijeka’s first French opponents. And Croatia has had the honour of being in Champions League record books courtesy Lyon’s 1-7 victory against Dinamo Zagreb in 2011.
But gloating on that match’s turnaround in fortunes (Thanks Bafe!) would be plenty useless. There is nothing that remarkably separates the two teams in performance thus far in the competition. In a group of four teams, Lyon is at third, and Rijeka is at fourth. The statistics say that Croatian’s have been unable to win against French opponents in the 11 games played since 2001. Rijeka drew against Real Betis, but lost 4-0 to Guimaraes in the last match.
Lyon’s stats are a tad more painful. One win in the last 12 games. I cannot recall a drought of morale that lasted this long for us. This, after starting the season with 4 solid wins on the trot. This time, the solution to this problem has to come from within. Are you listening Mr. Clement The-Next-Big-Thing Grenier?
Remi Garde has signalled the intent to throw in his best team tonight, despite going away to mighty Monaco on Sunday. But injuries mean Gonalons may be looked at as a Central Defender. I do hope Jimmy Briand and Gomis factor in that setup, given their latest form.
Possible Team Lineups
Lyon : A.Lopes – M.Lopes, Bisevac, Gonalons, Dabo – Malbranque, Fofana, Grenier; Briand, Gomis, Lacazette
Rijeka : Vargic – Boras, Datkovic, Knezevic, Bertosa – Males, Brezovec, Pokrivac, Kvrzic – Kramaric, Benko
