Wesley Sneijder and Didier Drogba of Galatasaray celebrate with team mates Goekhan Zan and Felipe Melo (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
Galatasaray qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals after sealing a 3-2 victory over Schalke 04 at the Veltins-Arena in Germany.
Schalke's spirited second-half performance was not enough as Galatasaray scored in the final moments of the match to ensure that the Turkish champions would feature in the next round of the Champions League.
On a very symbolic note, the top three French teams go head to head against the strongest forces
of the top three leagues in the world. Lille up against Inter Milan, Marseille against Arsenal, and
closer home, Real Madrid go head to toe and foot to mouth against Lyon.
On a very symbolic note, the top three French teams go head to head against the strongest forces
of the top three leagues in the world. Lille up against Inter Milan, Marseille against Arsenal, and
closer home, Real Madrid go head to toe and foot to mouth against Lyon.
I've just made a folder to document something I never wanted to happen again to Lyon the "Europa League". Running in the competition for the first time since 2002/03! Well that stinks.
Yep, Hugo Lloris has left for Tottenham. I couldn't help going back three years in time when a
friend said Lyon is better than Tottenham. "Tottenham?!", I cried, "Why would you even mention the
two teams in the same sentence?
Michels Bastos is a Brazilian international who plays for French club Olympique Lyonnais on the
left side of midfield. He is used by Brazil as a left back, so is obviously a skilful and versatile
player. Phillipe Auclair, who is a writer and English correspondent of FranceFootball has tweeted,
"There's talk around Lyon of Michel [.
Always have to be careful when praising early season goals, but Michel Bastos of Lyon has surely
laid down a marker for goal of the season in the French League, scoring an amazing overhead kick in
his side's 4-1 home victory over Troyes. In a game that was 0-0 at half time, Troyes actually took
[...]
Here's a quick recap of what's been going on at OL recently. There have been talks of several
depatures while Aulas has also promised new players, perhaps even this week.
Just last season, one could see Auxerre trying to fight their way in the Champions League group
stages, against Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Ajax. Heck, they even beat Ajax at home! But things have
changed, things have changed.
There was a long streak of weeks in the middle of the season, when even losing a match in the
Ligue 1 maintained Lyon's place in the table. With just 10 more games to go, it is no longer the
case!
In saving shoot-out spot-kicks from both Alexandre Lacazette and Michel Bastos, APOEL FC
'keeper Dionsios Chiotis sent his unfancied side through to an historic quarter-final berth in the
Champions League.
French giants Lyon came to Nicosia 1-0 ahead after the first leg, but a magnificent display from
the home side, who went ahead after just nine minutes courtesy of Gustavo Manduca, set up a
dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Lionel Messi single-handily destroyed Bayer Leverkusen 7-1 at the Nou Camp. Messi was at his
mesmerizing best, scoring five goals as Barca showed the rest of Europe that they will not give up
their Champions League trophy without a fight.
Messi became the first man to score four goals in a game twice in the Champions League and then
he set a new record, becoming the first player to score five goals in a game, when he scored his
fifth with six minutes to go.
A final. That's what this game is, as will be every game until the end of the season. With no
cards left, the Lyonnais have no other choice than doing their very best to win all games
remaining, and hope that the 5 clubs ahead don't.
After the bitter taste left by the draw with QSG, it may be difficult to remobilize a team who
did everything to win that game, and who could -and should have won.
Lyon vs PSG 4-4 Highlights Video 2012 OL Paris SG Goals Hoarau Ceara Buts Lopez Gomis Briand
Bastos Nene is a post from Soccer Blogger. Follow Soccer Blogger on Twitter
Lyon vs PSG 4-4 Highlights Video 2012 OL Paris SG Goals Hoarau Ceara Buts Lopez Gomis Briand Bastos
Nene is a post from Soccer Blogger.
...aka Let's Not Talk About Lyon's Shitty Performance Against Bordeaux.
The transfer rumor mill has fired up. Word on the street is that Kim Kallstrom
secretly met with Rubin Kazan, who are offering to triple his salary. However, the €5m they
offered for him had Jean-Michel Aulas say "LOLZ, eff that.
2012, after 2001?
Today is a crucial day as we'll know whether we continue our currently successful run in 4
competitions. Since the last victory against Dijon, OL players and staff didn't focus on the all
important incoming clash at the Velodrome against Marseille, which could condition the path of the
two clubs in L1.
How does one go from a miracle to synthetic grass? This sums up the problem faced by the Lyon
squad just a few days after an heroic and historical game that took everyone by surprise.
For that's the big question mark tonight : in what condition will the heroes of Zagreb be in
Lorient : back down to earth (or rather to the synthetic pitch with artificial grass of le Moustoir
stadium), or still floating somewhere with their minds still in Zagreb, with a heavy hangover after
days of partying night and day?
The international break being over, in Lyon, it's recovery time, after losing ground, both in
the Championnat and in the Champions League, to an unexpected extent : four away defeats in a
row.
It is not sure yet whether it's time to announce the OL nouveau, like people celebrated the arrival
of Beaujolais Nouveau, but one thing is likely: it should be stronger, more mature and probably
more sparkling.
As soon as the Gareth Bale rumours started, the papers were quick to start latching on to any
story regarding a possible replacement. With that in mind, it wouldn't surprise many Spurs fans to
learn that it's our old adversary the Daily Mail that is first in line with the suggestion that
Lyon's Michael Bastos is the player on Harry's radar.
Coupe de France greets us on the other side of the winter break, and OL travels to, well, Lyon.
The fourth division team of Lyon Duchère, the youth club of Eric Abidal, hosts Olympique Lyonnais,
the big boys this time.
The 'Sex Face'. With additional looming? It's a strong start from Bafe. Image: BERTRAND
GUAY/AFP/Getty Images.
Aside from a perfunctory nod in the Weekend Results and the occasional photo of Yoann Gourcuff,
Ligue 1 tends to remain somewhat 'off-piste' for us. But that doesn't mean we're not constantly
monitoring the newswires (Editor's note: yes it does) for images of players exhibiting
what we like to call 'The Five Tests of Titillation': namely those poses that we can wilfully
misinterpret as an effort by a player to appear on these pages.
With action packed couple of weeks to come, Lyon warm up for the Champions League qualifier
against Rubin Kazan by attempting to show the Ligue 1 returnees Ajaccio who's boss. Yes, 5 matches
to play from the 13th till 27th of August, two of which shall certainly decide the course of the
team for the year.
Another day another transfer link and this time it sees Tottenham mentioned in connection with Lyon's Michel Bastos. Despite his name and his playing base, Bastos is a Brazilian international with 10 full caps to his name and throughout his career has been mostly deployed on the left wing.
At first, a move for the 29 year old seems unlikely because of Gareth Bale's dominance on the left and if an injury were to arise, AVB may well see Andros Townsend as being perfectly capable of slotting in as Bale's cover.
Jonathan Spector picked up an ankle injury over the weekend, but that won't stop him from
attending the U.S. men's national team camp this week.
Spector is set to join head coach Jurgen Klinsmann and the rest of the U.S. team in South
Florida on Monday as it gets ready to prepare for its Saturday friendly against Honduras, a source
told SBI.
Liverpool's need for a left back is inching them closer to proposing a loan move for Manchester
City defender Wayne Bridge.
The Reds are short of options in that part of the field having seen Emiliano Insua, Paul Konchesky,
Fabio Aurelio and Glen Johnson all turn out in that position to differing levels of success over
the past two years.
Gazzetta dello Sport Juve already belong to Pirlo He wins everyone over in a 12-1 friendly debut
Rossi close, pact with Bastos and Vidal Alvarez at the centre of Inter Moratti: ‘Scudetto won't
be revoked? Good news' Milan want Casemiro too Heinze close to Roma Frey dropped, Fiorentina open
to Aquilani Tuttosport Vidal, Juve change gear Contact with Bayer Leverkusen for.
