What: French Ligue 1
Who: Saint-Etienne vs Lyon
When: Saturday 17th March, 2012, at 20:00 UK Time
Where: Geoffroy Guichard, Saint-Etienne, France
Champions League Looms on the Horizon
Considering some of France’s big teams are struggling to finish in the top three, Saint-Etienne are doing remarkably well to be sitting a point adrift of the Champions League places with 11 rounds of the season left. With Rennes and Toulouse, Les Verts have gatecrashed the top of the table end of season party that the likes of Marseille and opponents Lyon expected to enjoy.
Lyon have held bragging rights over their neighbours for over a decade and going into this derby three points behind Christophe Galtier’s side will be a culture shock. But Galtier has crafted an impressive unit, led ably from the front by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, whose return from the African Cup of Nations with Gabon was timely. He is Les Verts’ top scorer with 11 goals and has provided the impetus for much of the team’s best play this season.
Saint-Etienne are relishing the chance to take on their local rivals. "The game is not only about sport, it is also a historical and cultural confrontation. The fans will be fiery", said goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier.
Les Verts have not played in the European Cup since their glory days of the 1970s and early 1980s. Victory over arch rivals Lyon will put them one step closer to achieving that feat.
Away Day Blues for Les Gones
For Lyon, it has not been a happy March after crashing out of the Champions League in limp fashion to Cypriot surprise package APOEL. There is still plenty to play for though, with involvement in both domestic cup competitions – Les Gones are in the final of the Coupe de la Ligue. In Ligue 1 however Remi Garde’s men have been inconsistent due to their away form and that threatens their participation in next season’s Champions League. There is still time to recover a four-point deficit, but Lyon need to start picking up points on their travels and soon.
Perhaps that is to be expected with a young, inexperienced team who have leaned heavily on more experienced heads this term, such as Bafetimbi Gomis and Michel Bastos. A victory over Lille last week helped restore some confidence, but good home form must be repeated here. Les Gones have lost eight of 14 games away from home, though at least this trip is shorter than most.
Few places have been as fruitful for Lyon over the years either. They have not lost to Les Verts since 1994 at the Geoffroy Guichard. Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas has hyped up the event, claiming that the game is “match of the century for Saint-Etienne. A generation of supporters have never seen their team win the derby at the Geoffroy Guichard.”
Few will have been as vital as this for the visitors, though.
Recent form
Saint-Etienne:
Auxerre 0-0 Saint-Etienne (25/02; Ligue 1)
Saint-Etienne 0-2 Evian (03/03; Ligue 1)
Valenciennes 1-2 Saint-Etienne (10/03; Ligue 1)
Lyon:
Nancy 2-0 Lyon (03/03; Ligue 1)
APOEL 1-0 Lyon (07/03; Champions League)
Lyon 2-1 Lille (10/03; Ligue 1)
Key absences
Saint-Etienne: Banel Nicolita (doubt); Fabien Lemoine; Loic Perrin; Jean-Pascal Mignot
Lyon: Cris (doubt); Yoann Gourcuff; John Mensah
Players to watch
Saint-Etienne – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Aubameyang has been the man firing Les Verts forward this season with his goals. This is a team without an obvious creator, the likes of Max Gradel and Florent Sinama Pongolle utilising their pace and skill to create space and chances. And Lyon’s defence has been weak this season. Garde has a rebuilding job to do but Les Gones have been caught out, particularly on the road – Aubameyang will be able to take advantage of Lyon’s weakness if he is at his best.
Lyon – Maxime Gonalons: Lyon, perhaps due to their exhausting schedule, having been involved in all competitions until Champions League defeat last week, have perhaps been tired at times. Les Gones will at least have had a week since their last game though and that should help Garde. But some of Lyon’s best players have not been firing on all cylinders of late and against a side with the attacking flair of Saint-Etienne with such a poor away record, Les Gones will really need to control the midfield to come away with a point or three. That is where Gonalons, who has often been used in defence this term, will come in. The talented youngster can give his team some stability and a platform to build on in the centre of the pitch. That could be key.
Match Prediction
Psychology will come in to a game like this, where the home team have not beaten their fierce rivals on their own turf for so many years. But Saint-Etienne will feel this is the perfect chance to put one over on Lyon. Jeremy Clement, in the Les Verts midfield, is a tough competitor and will make it difficult for Lyon to dictate play. With the pace of Gradel and Pongolle, this could be a game where the home team enjoy most fortune on the break.
For Lyon, they will try and take the game to Galtier’s side, and certainly have the players to do so. But Bastos or Gomis will have to step up to the plate if the visitors are to put their opponents to the sword. It should be a reasonably balanced game though, and one in which both teams should get chances. With the firepower on display, this may be an entertaining draw. Saint-Etienne 2-2 Lyon.
Saint-Etienne v Lyon will be a fierce derby and anything could happen. Who do you think will win? Make sure you visit OLBG for tips and to compare the current odds and betting markets available at all the important bookmakers.
