We move along in our series with the Rapids, who wildly disappointed fans by slumping down the stretch to miss out on the playoffs thanks to a closing day loss to arch rivals Real Salt Lake - who have added insult to injury by making it to MLS Cup. Yeesh. For this autopsy/look ahead, we turn to Class VI Grand Poobah Mark Bodmer. Click to continue reading...

November 8, 2009
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
3:00 EST (21:00CET, 20:00GMT)

Sunday evening it's back to work. But hopefully, it's not one of those usual Monday morning, sloping, sluggish, I need a liter of coffee to get through the day, back to works, because aside from the heart wrenching matches against Cesspool in the CL, Lyon have been afflicted with a general malaise probably since week eight in the PSG match, and need this victory to put some pep back in their step.

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OCTOBER 31, 2009
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, St. Etienne
4PM ET (21:00 CET, 20:00 GMT)

Saturday, OL make their descent into Le Chaudron and you can believe it will be hot- aka Stade Geoffroy-Guichard to kick-off the only derby that really matters.

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OCTOBER 24, 2009
Stade Municipal Du Ray, Nice
1 PM ET (19:00 CET, 18:00 GMT)
After Tuesday's unbelievable victory at Anfield, we can only hope that the players have come back down to earth- because I'm still on cloud nine- and are ready to dispatch there next league obstacle and maintain their miniscule +1 goal differential lead over second place Montpellier?

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Liverpool face a tricky Champions League tie at Anfield against French giants Olympique Lyonnais. Fernando Torres is the major absence for Rafa Benitez's side, but captain Steven Gerrard makes a return to the squad.

Liverpool

Team News:

• Steven Gerrard recovers in time for the match and is expected to start for Rafa's side.

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October 17, 2009
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
1 PM ET (19:00 CET, 18:00 GMT)

Well, after the short but much needed international break, Lyon head back to office. The break gave us some much needed time for the laundry list of players out due to injury, to continue their convalescences.

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I didn't have the energy to do an actual preview for this game, so I figured I should at least put up a game day thread.

August 29, 2009
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
3 PM ET (21:00 CET)

Nothing to report except that Nancy have bigger injury concerns than we do.

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Ladies & gentlemen in an attempt to expand Mad About Futbol's reach we are going to start giving you roundups of the France's Ligue 1. France's top league of football is one of the most important in the world and deserves more attention than it currently receives. Therefore, MAF will give you a weekly roundup of Ligue 1 including the scores & standings from the most recent round. Click to continue reading...

July 18, 2009
Stade De L'Escale d'Arnas, Arnas
1:00 PM EST(19:00CET, 18:00GMT)

Today, OL are in Rhône-Alpes to take on RC Lens. Lens is gearing-up for a return to first division football after last year's soujourn in L2 purgatory. It will be the first meeting between the two teams since .

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This may be "Kongo Kim's" last match for OL and Sidney's too; wink.
Week 35
Sat May 30, 2009
Stade Alle Gabriel Benes
3:00 PM(21:00CET, 20:00GMT)

Well, we've taken care of business and OL are now back in the CL,albiet in qualifying rounds, but hey, it's better than the alternatives.

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Stade Camille Fournier d'Evian, Grenoble
Friday 8, May 2009
(17:00CET, 16:00GMT)

Today, Lyon are up in Evian to play an amicable match against one of our cross-town rivals, Grenoble. Judging by the group list and current state of crisis at OL, Puel is taking nothing lightly: not a single CFA player was called-up, and every first-team player except Santos- suspended for ten days, and probably never to set foot on OL premeses again- has made the trip.

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When was the last time you saw this?
Sun, 14 April, 2009
Stade de Gerland, Lyon
3 PM ET (21:00 CET, 20:00 GMT)

Last week saw OL get-off to a good start in the final stretch of the season with a strong showing vs. Le Mans. Lyon did alot of good things: scored three- I wanted to see maybe two more to narrow Marseilles' point differential lead, Benzema broke-out of his miny-slump with a brace and Jean the Monster Makoun had two assits.

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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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Dear Lyon,

Don't screw this up.

Hugs and kisses,

Me

Lyon:

Lloris
Reveillere - Boumsong - Bodmer - Kallstrom
Makoun - Toulalan - Juninho
Govou - Fred - Benzema

Bench: Vercoutre, Gassama, Cris, Mensah, Pjanic, Ederson, Piquionne, Mounier

Fiorentina:

Frey
Zauri - Kroldrup - Dainelli - Vargas
Kuzmanovic - Melo - Montolivo - Almiron
Gilardino - Mutu

Bench: Storari, Donadel, Jovetic, Gobbi, Jorgensen, Santana, Pazzini

Feel free to post commentary, frustrations, and thoughts here during and after the game.

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A new coach, several new players, new tactical systems...so I figured it was time for another team building exercise.

I can't resist this picture. It's Lyon to a T.

Between friendlies and the first few competitive games, we've gotten a vague idea about the kind of team Puel wants to form - tactically organized, defensively solid, players sticking to their roles (as opposed to last season, where players would be out of position all the time).

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Benzema celebrates after scoring Lyon's only goal in last year's 2-1 loss to Lorient.

This week, Lyon travel to Brittany to face FC Lorient at Le Stade Moustoir. Lorient is currently tied for 2nd place with seven other teams in L1, having defeated Le Mans 1-0 in the first week.

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