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.

AS Lyon Duchère vs. Olympique Lyonnais

Coupe de France, Round of 64

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.

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?

Bad luck. Just about to start the biggest game of this fall, and possibly of this season, Olympique Lyonnais is in disarray. After a promising start to the season, both in the game and in the mindset, OL is so far in a series of three defeats, regardless of the competition. Rémi Garde's men are ineffective upfront and fragile behind.

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.

Olympique Lyonnais vs. AS Saint-Etienne

Ligue 1, Matchday 12

Celebrations of victory over derby rivals Saint-Etienne in the Coupe de la Ligue Round of 16 turned sour following news of further injury to crucial squad members. Long time back up keeper Rémy Vercoutre and in-form winger Michel Bastos made their way into the injured list.

Real Madrid CF vs. Olympique Lyonnais.

UEFA Champions League Group Stages 2011/12.

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.

Real Madrid CF vs. Olympique Lyonnais.

UEFA Champions League Group Stages 2011/12.

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.

Se acerca el partido de México contra Brasil , asi que es pertinente mostrarles un encuentro con un brasileño, pues en el Campus Party México 2011 tuve la oportunidad de platicar y recibir consejos de el twitero mas influyente del mundo Rafinha Bastos.
¿Pero quien es este brasileño?

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.

By FRANCO PANIZO

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.

Brazilian soccer assistant referee Nadine Schram Câmara Bastos worked the lines of Sunday's 2-2 draw between Campeonato Brasileiro Série A leaders Corinthians and mid-table Ceará. Given that it is still a rarity to see female match officials in top level men's matches, the dental assistant caught the attention of the cameras while in action.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Éder Luís celebrates his goal in last night's Copa Brasil final

Vasco da Gama finally got their hands on the Copa Brasil with an away goals victory over Coritiba. In a hard fought two-legged contest Vasco had prevailed with a 1-0 win at home in the first leg before travelling to Coritiba for last night's return fixture.

Where the Lionceaux (the cubs) meet Lyon... This saturday, the FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, unbeaten in three matches, hosts the Olympique Lyonnais, currently fourth before this 27th day of Ligue 1. The Lyonnais have the opportunity to overtake Marseille and reach the third step of the podium, getting closer (at 1 point distance) to the leader, Lille, until they play on sunday, and to Rennes who lost to Marseille (2-0).

Liverpool have today been linked with Brazilian left back Michel Bastos, who currently plays for French side Olympique Lyonnais, as a long term solution to the Red's left back problem.

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Chelsea ran riot in Copenhagen this evening, winning 2-0 with Nicolas Anelka scoring on both sides of the half. The west londoners got just the opposition they needed to turn their sad form around, with the bald Frenchman showing real class against a side who looked very much like they hadn't played in two months.

Real Madrid's struggles in the knockout stages of the Champions League continue as they were held to a 1-1 draw in France.

Karim Benzema scored against his former club in the 65th minute and seemed to give Real Madrid a morale boosting away victory. But Lyon's Bafetimbi Gomis tied the score in the 83rd minute leaving the tie finely balanced heading back to the Bernabeu in three weeks.

St.Etienne vs Lyon French Ligue 1- February 12, 2011 Final score:- St.Etienne vs Olympique Lyon 1-4 ( Bocanegra/ Gomis, Bayal OG, Bastos, Briand) Lyon beat fierce rivals St.Etienne 4-1 away from home in Ligue 1, with Bafetimbi Gomis netting against his former club. St.Etienne took the lead through Bocanegra, but Lyon were in no mood [.

Saint-Étienne defender Carlos Bocanegra volleyed home the game's opening goal from a restart, but visiting Lyon now lead 2-1 past the hour. Clip to come...UPDATE: Urgh. Make it 3-1 Lyon after Bocanegra loses Michel Bastos on a long ball.By the way, this got by me earlier: FC Nürnberg youngster Timothy Chandler bagged his first Bundesliga goal today (the relevant play start at about the 4:35 mark)

PARIS, France — Paris Saint Germain, who were last crowned French champions back in 1994, moved to within one point of leaders Lille with a 2-1 win over bottom club Arles-Avignon on Saturday. Turkish striker Mevlut Erding, PSG's top scorer last season, ensured the points with goals in either half, with Senegelese midfielder Deme Ndiaye [.

Come on boys, the nap is over! Now that we've made sure to get out of every possible disturbance like the Coupe de la Ligue and the Coupe de France, could we please move the bottom part of our back, and fight for the championship title? I'd better tell you : I'm angry.

OK, Nice had their best game of the season last saturday.

Against Caen today, Lyon will compete in the 217th Coupe de France match in its history. So this little known competition goes a long way, and few people know that the Football Club de Lyon played in 1917 already in the final of the very first edition of this competition, against Olympique .. de Pantin (a Paris suburb).