Marseille v PSG
Grenoble v Lyon
Rennes v Le Mans
Lens v Nancy
Bordeaux v Valenciennes
Auxerre v Monaco
St Etienne v Lorient
Nice v Toulouse
Montpellier v Lille
Not quite a full programme this week in La Rébublique because on Friday night, the postponed Marseille v PSG game takes place. This is the one that was called off thanks to an outbreak of H1N1 in the Paris camp and the two sides scheduled opponents, Sochaux and Boulogne, sit out the weekend. All three of the infected players are back in for the rearranged clash, though they are without Claude Makelele and Guillaume Hoarau due to suspension and injury respectively. Marseille have their problems, but they're mainly internal thanks to Hatem Ben Arfa's falling-out with Didier Deschamps. Whenever a player falls out with his manager, he loses. So it is in this case too, and Ben Arfa will be out on his ear as soon as is possible. January.
Bordeaux continue their defence of the title at home to Valenciennes, but the big game sees third play fourth at the Abbe-Deschamps in Auxerre where Monaco are the visitors. This should be a belter. Ireneusz Jelen and Nene are two of the league's leading scorers and both sides play attractive football. Should be great. Lyon are in second and will win this weekend. Why? Because they're up against Grenoble who are still rubbish despite getting off the mark last time out. There's a reasonable looking game on the south coast between resurgent Nice and Toulouse.
Elesewhere, picking look slim. Struggling Le Mans go to Rennes, struggling Lens are at home to Nancy, Montpellier look to get back on track against Lille and St Etienne are at home to Lorient. None of them look particularly appetising to the neutral observer.
Friday, 20 November 2009
Bundesliga round 13
Freiburg v Bremen
Stuttgart v Hertha
Schalke v Hannover
Wolfsburg v Nurnberg
Cologne v Hoffenheim
Eintracht v Monchengladbach
Dortmund v Mainz
Bayern v Leverkusen
Hamburg v Bochum
The Bundesliga resumes under something of a cloud following the tragic death of Robert Enke. The national team's friendly against Chile last weekend was postponed, so we resume with a full league programme.
A year ago, Hertha against Stuttgart was a top-of-the-table clash. This week, both sides go into the game in the bottom four. The only surprise for Hertha is that they're only six points adrift of safety. Mind, that's six points they've not looked like getting all season so far and it's Stuttgart who have that gap over the troubled Berliners. Hertha have already changed their manager - Stuttgart have yet to do so, but Markus Babbel is on borrowed time. Both clubs need a win, but it's difficult to make a case for either of them winning. If ever two sides in a football game could both contrive to lose a match, this is it.
Pressure is high in Munich as well where the latest make-or-break match - they seem to have one every week - sees the leaders Leverkusen visit the Allianz. Compare and contrast to last season. Jurgen Klinsmann was, rightly, lambasted for his utter ineptitude as a manager, but Bayern were doing better at this stage than they are under Van Gaal. The Dutchman hasn't had the services of his three best players, in all fairness, thanks to injury to Mark van Bommel and Franck Ribéry and Ze Roberto having been sold in the summer. Still, the cash has been splashed and results are poor. Stefan Kiessling is in great form, as is his main supplier Tranquilo Barnetta. Leverkusen play with a verve that Bayern are a millions miles away from emulating.
Hamburg have a straightforward looking game against Bochum to get their title challenge back on track, as do Bremen who are at Freiburg. Schalke have just fallen off a little and they face Hannover, still trying to come to terms with the loss of Enke. The fact they're playing is more important than the outcome. Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim can both play stunning football when they're so inclined and both are favourites in their respective games, Dortmund v Mainz looks a cracker unlike Eitracht against Gladbach which... err... doesn't.
Stuttgart v Hertha
Schalke v Hannover
Wolfsburg v Nurnberg
Cologne v Hoffenheim
Eintracht v Monchengladbach
Dortmund v Mainz
Bayern v Leverkusen
Hamburg v Bochum
The Bundesliga resumes under something of a cloud following the tragic death of Robert Enke. The national team's friendly against Chile last weekend was postponed, so we resume with a full league programme.
A year ago, Hertha against Stuttgart was a top-of-the-table clash. This week, both sides go into the game in the bottom four. The only surprise for Hertha is that they're only six points adrift of safety. Mind, that's six points they've not looked like getting all season so far and it's Stuttgart who have that gap over the troubled Berliners. Hertha have already changed their manager - Stuttgart have yet to do so, but Markus Babbel is on borrowed time. Both clubs need a win, but it's difficult to make a case for either of them winning. If ever two sides in a football game could both contrive to lose a match, this is it.
Pressure is high in Munich as well where the latest make-or-break match - they seem to have one every week - sees the leaders Leverkusen visit the Allianz. Compare and contrast to last season. Jurgen Klinsmann was, rightly, lambasted for his utter ineptitude as a manager, but Bayern were doing better at this stage than they are under Van Gaal. The Dutchman hasn't had the services of his three best players, in all fairness, thanks to injury to Mark van Bommel and Franck Ribéry and Ze Roberto having been sold in the summer. Still, the cash has been splashed and results are poor. Stefan Kiessling is in great form, as is his main supplier Tranquilo Barnetta. Leverkusen play with a verve that Bayern are a millions miles away from emulating.
Hamburg have a straightforward looking game against Bochum to get their title challenge back on track, as do Bremen who are at Freiburg. Schalke have just fallen off a little and they face Hannover, still trying to come to terms with the loss of Enke. The fact they're playing is more important than the outcome. Wolfsburg and Hoffenheim can both play stunning football when they're so inclined and both are favourites in their respective games, Dortmund v Mainz looks a cracker unlike Eitracht against Gladbach which... err... doesn't.
Eredivisie round 14
Roda v AZ
NAC v NEC
Waalwijk v Groningen
Twente v Vitesse
Feyenoord v Utrecht
Ajax v Heerenveen
VVV Venlo v Sparta
Willem II v Den Haag
PSV v Heracles
Back to the weekly grind after the fun and games of the World Cup qualifiers and it's one of those weeks in the Eredivisie where none of the games leap off the page and scream 'watch me!'. Leaders Twente are at home to Vitesse, PSV have Heracles, also at home. They should both win comfortably as should Ajax, also at home, to lowly Heerenveen. Feyenoord and Utrecht face off in a clash which may go some way to determine the 'beat of the rest' title and there are some real potential stinkers. If Waalwijk v Groningen was on in my back garden, I'd close the curtains. NAC v NEC doesn't inspire either. AZ's indifferent form will be tested in Kerkrade while Den Haag against Willem II looks set to be a race to see who can kick the opposition hardest.
That leaves VVV Venlo against Sparta as my game of the week. They are going in opposite directions. VVV started well but are fading, to the point at which they dropped into the bottom three last time around. Sparta are quite the opposite having started badly, but have risen to the fringes of the European places. There should be goals, and that can't be said for the rest of the week's fixtures.
NAC v NEC
Waalwijk v Groningen
Twente v Vitesse
Feyenoord v Utrecht
Ajax v Heerenveen
VVV Venlo v Sparta
Willem II v Den Haag
PSV v Heracles
Back to the weekly grind after the fun and games of the World Cup qualifiers and it's one of those weeks in the Eredivisie where none of the games leap off the page and scream 'watch me!'. Leaders Twente are at home to Vitesse, PSV have Heracles, also at home. They should both win comfortably as should Ajax, also at home, to lowly Heerenveen. Feyenoord and Utrecht face off in a clash which may go some way to determine the 'beat of the rest' title and there are some real potential stinkers. If Waalwijk v Groningen was on in my back garden, I'd close the curtains. NAC v NEC doesn't inspire either. AZ's indifferent form will be tested in Kerkrade while Den Haag against Willem II looks set to be a race to see who can kick the opposition hardest.
That leaves VVV Venlo against Sparta as my game of the week. They are going in opposite directions. VVV started well but are fading, to the point at which they dropped into the bottom three last time around. Sparta are quite the opposite having started badly, but have risen to the fringes of the European places. There should be goals, and that can't be said for the rest of the week's fixtures.
Thursday, 19 November 2009
What the f
France 1-1 Ireland
France win 2-1 on aggregate
Slovenia 1-0 Russia
2-2 on aggregate. Slovenia win on away goals
Bosnia 0-1 Portugal
Portugal win 2-0 on aggregate
Ukraine 0-1 Greece
Greece win 1-0 on aggregate
You can only really start a World Cup round-up at Stade de France. Ireland came up with a battling performance against France and forced extra time after Robbie Keane converted Damien Duff's pinpoint cross. That was the only time the Irish beat the inspired Hugo Lloris in the French goal. Ireland had marginally the better of the extra half hour as well, but then came the controversy. After the referee had denied France a penalty, probably correctly, when Shay Given came off his line sharply at the feet of Nicolas Anelka, he summarily failed to see Thierry Henry handle the ball twice before squaring it to William Gallas who turned in an equaliser on the night and the winner overall.
Henry didn't deny that he'd handled it, instead claiming it to be the duty of the referee to spot it. He has a modicum of a point, but one which was greatly undermined as he wheeled away on celebration as if he'd just been granted the kingdoms of France, Spain and Portugal as reward for his cunning and then the faux-sportsmanship after the game as he commiserated with Richard Dunne. Frankly, if Dunne had punched him the throat and told him to fuck off, he'd have been more than justified.
Giovanni Trappatoni has seen pretty much everything in football and was characteristically magnanimous in an FAI press conference the following day. While the FAI barked up very much the wrong tree in pleading for a replay, Trappatoni expressed his disappointment in his now trademark half English-half Italian and seemingly moved on quickly. Dara O'Briain was on the radio and came up with a great idea. Throughout the World Cup finals, they should be referred to as France*. We'll certainly be doing that here.
Elsewhere, seeds Portugal and Greece prevailed. Portugal saw off depleted Bosnia and Miroslav Blazevic will surely now slide gracefully into retirement. What a career he's had and isn't it amazing how black his hair has remained? Raul Meireles struck ten minutes after half-time and Bosnia's fate was sealed when Sejad Salihovic was sent off. They've done well, Bosnia, but this was a bridge too far. Greece won through in a predictably dull game, Dimitrios Salpigidis with the only goal of the 120 minutes. So far so good for FIFA's seeding plan.
But when all else was failing, step forward Slovenia. They gave Russia no breathing space at all and Zlatko Dedic struck a minute before half-time to hand them the lead on the night and, on away goals, in the tie. Russia never got going and Slovenia really got stuck in, making life hard. Andrei Arshavin never got in the game and the rattled Russian finished with nine men as, first, Alexander Kerzhakov and then Yuri Zhirkov were sent off as it threatened to boil over. Slovenia are therefore the only non-seeds to progress and represent a big up yours to FIFA and, for that reason, they are the official Euroballs side of the 2010 World Cup.
France win 2-1 on aggregate
Slovenia 1-0 Russia
2-2 on aggregate. Slovenia win on away goals
Bosnia 0-1 Portugal
Portugal win 2-0 on aggregate
Ukraine 0-1 Greece
Greece win 1-0 on aggregate
You can only really start a World Cup round-up at Stade de France. Ireland came up with a battling performance against France and forced extra time after Robbie Keane converted Damien Duff's pinpoint cross. That was the only time the Irish beat the inspired Hugo Lloris in the French goal. Ireland had marginally the better of the extra half hour as well, but then came the controversy. After the referee had denied France a penalty, probably correctly, when Shay Given came off his line sharply at the feet of Nicolas Anelka, he summarily failed to see Thierry Henry handle the ball twice before squaring it to William Gallas who turned in an equaliser on the night and the winner overall.
Henry didn't deny that he'd handled it, instead claiming it to be the duty of the referee to spot it. He has a modicum of a point, but one which was greatly undermined as he wheeled away on celebration as if he'd just been granted the kingdoms of France, Spain and Portugal as reward for his cunning and then the faux-sportsmanship after the game as he commiserated with Richard Dunne. Frankly, if Dunne had punched him the throat and told him to fuck off, he'd have been more than justified.
Giovanni Trappatoni has seen pretty much everything in football and was characteristically magnanimous in an FAI press conference the following day. While the FAI barked up very much the wrong tree in pleading for a replay, Trappatoni expressed his disappointment in his now trademark half English-half Italian and seemingly moved on quickly. Dara O'Briain was on the radio and came up with a great idea. Throughout the World Cup finals, they should be referred to as France*. We'll certainly be doing that here.
Elsewhere, seeds Portugal and Greece prevailed. Portugal saw off depleted Bosnia and Miroslav Blazevic will surely now slide gracefully into retirement. What a career he's had and isn't it amazing how black his hair has remained? Raul Meireles struck ten minutes after half-time and Bosnia's fate was sealed when Sejad Salihovic was sent off. They've done well, Bosnia, but this was a bridge too far. Greece won through in a predictably dull game, Dimitrios Salpigidis with the only goal of the 120 minutes. So far so good for FIFA's seeding plan.
But when all else was failing, step forward Slovenia. They gave Russia no breathing space at all and Zlatko Dedic struck a minute before half-time to hand them the lead on the night and, on away goals, in the tie. Russia never got going and Slovenia really got stuck in, making life hard. Andrei Arshavin never got in the game and the rattled Russian finished with nine men as, first, Alexander Kerzhakov and then Yuri Zhirkov were sent off as it threatened to boil over. Slovenia are therefore the only non-seeds to progress and represent a big up yours to FIFA and, for that reason, they are the official Euroballs side of the 2010 World Cup.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
World Cup scramble
The second legs of the World Cup qualifying play-offs take place tonight with the final four European places in next summer's finals at stake. All four games are finely poised with the non-seeds all poised to upset FIFA's shameless moving of the goalposts. Let's have a look at the state of play.
France (1) v Ireland (0)
Ireland did well in Dublin on Saturday, but failed to take their chances. By contrast, Nicolas Anelka did take one of France's few and the normally prolific André-Pierre Gignac could have all but ended the tie, but missed. This return fixture should be a feisty affair after a bit of a set-to parked by Lassana Diarra's contretemps with Keith Andrews at the final whistle at Croke Park. But will feist overcome flair? There's a tricky balancing act between the two and if Ireland concentrate too much on trying to unsettle the French, they'll expose themselves at the back. However, this French side isn't one of the great French sides and, as their travails are one of the main reasons we have this seeding system, let's all hope they cop a beating in St Denis.
Bosnia (0) v Portugal (1)
Miroslav Blazevic has done a terrific job with Bosnia, but the former Croatian boss, now 74, risks having all his work undermined by injury and suspension. The injury is the biggy - Zvejzdan Misimovic makes this side tick and will be sorely missed as part of a dynamic front four. The onus instead passes to Sejad Salihovic to provide the balls for Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic. Emir Spahic, Elver Rahimic and Samir Muratovic are all suspended having picked up yellow cards in the first leg. Simao reckons Portugal aren't going to sit on the 1-0 lead, but under Carlos Queiroz they've been inclined to sit back on leads during games a few times too often. It looks like Cristiano Ronaldo will miss this one as well, which is grist to Blazevic's mill. The old master to work one more miracle before he finally retires? Don't bet against it.
Slovenia (1) v Russia (2)
Nejc Pecnik's late goal in Moscow enlivened this tie as, until that point, it looked like Russia were walking away with it. Diniar Bilyaletdinov got both for the Russians and they were cruising home. Yes, they've still got the advantage in the tie, but momentum is a big thing and Slovenia are notably buoyed by the outcome. They boast a mean defence and a full-strength side for this game in Maribor. Guus Hiddink looks set for a midfield reshuffle with Alan Dzagoev still struggling after missing the first leg and Igor Semshov and Vladimir Bystrov both in poor form. Russia will start favourites to progress, but that away goal looks huge.
Ukraine (0) v Greece (0)
This could rank as one of the dullest games in the history of World Cup qualifying. Greece under Otto Rehhagel play as they always have done: tight at the back, hit on the counter. That can be quite entertaining, but not against a side like Ukraine with the paucity of attacking options that they bring to the table. Alexiy Mikhailichenko played Andriy Shevchenko on his own up top in the first leg, but Artem Milevskiy and Oleg Gusev will have to get up in support more if Ukraine are to break down the tough Greek rearguard. Socrates Papastathopoulos was detailed to look after Shevchenko in Athens, but while defence is fairly well looked after, it's the Greek attack that looks weak. And Ukraine haven't conceded at home since June. Penalties.
Outside of Europe, there's a couple of tasty looking clashes as well. Egypt beat Algeria in a bad-tempered grudge match by two goals to nil at the weekend which left the rivals with identical playing records through the group stage. This then requires them to play off in a one-off game and it's in Sudan. In the Americas, Costa Rica lost in San Jose to Uruguay, but go to Montevideo in good spirits. More on that on our sister site, CONMEBalls.
France (1) v Ireland (0)
Ireland did well in Dublin on Saturday, but failed to take their chances. By contrast, Nicolas Anelka did take one of France's few and the normally prolific André-Pierre Gignac could have all but ended the tie, but missed. This return fixture should be a feisty affair after a bit of a set-to parked by Lassana Diarra's contretemps with Keith Andrews at the final whistle at Croke Park. But will feist overcome flair? There's a tricky balancing act between the two and if Ireland concentrate too much on trying to unsettle the French, they'll expose themselves at the back. However, this French side isn't one of the great French sides and, as their travails are one of the main reasons we have this seeding system, let's all hope they cop a beating in St Denis.
Bosnia (0) v Portugal (1)
Miroslav Blazevic has done a terrific job with Bosnia, but the former Croatian boss, now 74, risks having all his work undermined by injury and suspension. The injury is the biggy - Zvejzdan Misimovic makes this side tick and will be sorely missed as part of a dynamic front four. The onus instead passes to Sejad Salihovic to provide the balls for Edin Dzeko and Vedad Ibisevic. Emir Spahic, Elver Rahimic and Samir Muratovic are all suspended having picked up yellow cards in the first leg. Simao reckons Portugal aren't going to sit on the 1-0 lead, but under Carlos Queiroz they've been inclined to sit back on leads during games a few times too often. It looks like Cristiano Ronaldo will miss this one as well, which is grist to Blazevic's mill. The old master to work one more miracle before he finally retires? Don't bet against it.
Slovenia (1) v Russia (2)
Nejc Pecnik's late goal in Moscow enlivened this tie as, until that point, it looked like Russia were walking away with it. Diniar Bilyaletdinov got both for the Russians and they were cruising home. Yes, they've still got the advantage in the tie, but momentum is a big thing and Slovenia are notably buoyed by the outcome. They boast a mean defence and a full-strength side for this game in Maribor. Guus Hiddink looks set for a midfield reshuffle with Alan Dzagoev still struggling after missing the first leg and Igor Semshov and Vladimir Bystrov both in poor form. Russia will start favourites to progress, but that away goal looks huge.
Ukraine (0) v Greece (0)
This could rank as one of the dullest games in the history of World Cup qualifying. Greece under Otto Rehhagel play as they always have done: tight at the back, hit on the counter. That can be quite entertaining, but not against a side like Ukraine with the paucity of attacking options that they bring to the table. Alexiy Mikhailichenko played Andriy Shevchenko on his own up top in the first leg, but Artem Milevskiy and Oleg Gusev will have to get up in support more if Ukraine are to break down the tough Greek rearguard. Socrates Papastathopoulos was detailed to look after Shevchenko in Athens, but while defence is fairly well looked after, it's the Greek attack that looks weak. And Ukraine haven't conceded at home since June. Penalties.
Outside of Europe, there's a couple of tasty looking clashes as well. Egypt beat Algeria in a bad-tempered grudge match by two goals to nil at the weekend which left the rivals with identical playing records through the group stage. This then requires them to play off in a one-off game and it's in Sudan. In the Americas, Costa Rica lost in San Jose to Uruguay, but go to Montevideo in good spirits. More on that on our sister site, CONMEBalls.
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
Forget football
For all we love football here at Euroballs, we hope we don't lose sight of the bigger picture. Often when bad news emerges, football is one of the methods we can use to forget about the cares of the world and focus on something that, ultimately, doesn't really matter.
Then bad news comes in from within the football world, such as the tragic death of Robert Enke, the Hannover 96 goalkeeper and apparent first choice for the national side. The DFB have taken the only real course of action in calling off the week's games against Chile and Ivory Coast - this is hardly a time for trivialities such as football.
Then bad news comes in from within the football world, such as the tragic death of Robert Enke, the Hannover 96 goalkeeper and apparent first choice for the national side. The DFB have taken the only real course of action in calling off the week's games against Chile and Ivory Coast - this is hardly a time for trivialities such as football.
Monday, 9 November 2009
Ten goals in Lyon while Grenoble make their point: Ligue 1 reviews
PSG 0-1 Nice
Valenciennes 1-1 Montpellier
Le Mans 0-1 Auxerre
Nancy 0-1 St Etienne
Monaco 0-0 Grenoble
Lorient 5-0 Boulogne
Sochaux 1-2 Lens
Lille 2-0 Bordeaux
Toulouse 3-2 Rennes
Lyon 5-5 Marseille
That isn't a typographical error. Lyon 5-5 Marseille. It really did happen. 25 years ago, your current correspondent sat with jaw on the floor as a Chris Waddle-inspired Newcastle ran into a five-goal lead against QPR in the old First Division only to see it level at the end at five apiece. Quarter of a century on, it's happened again with Waddle's former club Marseille snatching a dramatic draw at the death of a quite remarkable game. With ten minutes left, OM were leading 4-2, but had to rely on a stoppage time own goal from Jeremy Toulalan to ensure a point. Miralem Pjanic put Les Gones ahead inside three minutes as Marseille failed to clear a Kim Kallstrom cross, but Souleymane Diawara headed in a corner ten minutes later. They were level for just three minutes before Sidney Govou handed OL the lead back with a lung-bursting run and neat finish. Benoit Cheyrou slammed another equaliser home on the stroke of half-time and Bakari Koné put OM into the lead for the first time two minutes after the restart with a great volley. Brandao headed home for 4-2 eleven minutes from time and that looked to be the game. Lisandro Lopez had other ideas, chipping over Steve Mandanda and then slotting home an equalising penalty after Gabriel Heinze was adjudged to have handled in the box. Into stoppage time and Lisandro combined with Pjanic to tee up Michel Bastos who put Lyon back into the lead. And after all that, there was still time for Mamadou Niang's shot to cause panic in the Lyon area and the unfortunate Toulalan had the final touch. Don't know about you, but I'm worn out reading that back.
That meant that Bordeaux got away with a defeat at Lille to remain top. The champions were off colour and were taken down a peg by the northerners who dominated throughout. Pressure finally paid off when the otherwise exemplary Cedric Carrasso parried Pierre-Alain Frau's shot to the feet of Yohan Cabaye who put it away. A late Florent Balmont penalty sealed the points. Auxerre move up to third after beating Le Mans. Jorge Andrade was helpless to prevent himself putting through his own net, his keeper Didier Ovono parrying Ireneusz Jelen's shot into his path as he tracked back. Anthony Le Tallec had a late penalty saved, compounding Le Mans' misery.
Other than the five-all draw, the big story was Grenoble winning their first point of the season in a goalless draw in Monaco. They had chances to win it, but were more indebted to an inspired goalkeeping performance by Ronan Le Crom who saved three times from Frederic Nimani to get his side off the mark.
Toulouse won a five-goal thriller against Rennes, Moussa Sissoko putting them in front on the half hour only for Asamoah Gyan to level on the stroke of half-time. Daniel Braathen and André-Pierre Gignac put Les Violets ahead, but Kader Mangane set up a tense finish. Lorient won big against free-falling Boulogne, banging five away, Kevin Gameiro and Marama Vahirua getting two each and Morgan Amalfitano nabbing the fifth. Dimitri Payet got the only goal of the game as St Etienne beat Nancy, PSG went down to a late Loic Remy goal as Nice pulled away from the bottom, Montpellier drew with Valenciennes to slightly arrest their slide and Lens grabbed a vital three points against Sochaux.
Valenciennes 1-1 Montpellier
Le Mans 0-1 Auxerre
Nancy 0-1 St Etienne
Monaco 0-0 Grenoble
Lorient 5-0 Boulogne
Sochaux 1-2 Lens
Lille 2-0 Bordeaux
Toulouse 3-2 Rennes
Lyon 5-5 Marseille
That isn't a typographical error. Lyon 5-5 Marseille. It really did happen. 25 years ago, your current correspondent sat with jaw on the floor as a Chris Waddle-inspired Newcastle ran into a five-goal lead against QPR in the old First Division only to see it level at the end at five apiece. Quarter of a century on, it's happened again with Waddle's former club Marseille snatching a dramatic draw at the death of a quite remarkable game. With ten minutes left, OM were leading 4-2, but had to rely on a stoppage time own goal from Jeremy Toulalan to ensure a point. Miralem Pjanic put Les Gones ahead inside three minutes as Marseille failed to clear a Kim Kallstrom cross, but Souleymane Diawara headed in a corner ten minutes later. They were level for just three minutes before Sidney Govou handed OL the lead back with a lung-bursting run and neat finish. Benoit Cheyrou slammed another equaliser home on the stroke of half-time and Bakari Koné put OM into the lead for the first time two minutes after the restart with a great volley. Brandao headed home for 4-2 eleven minutes from time and that looked to be the game. Lisandro Lopez had other ideas, chipping over Steve Mandanda and then slotting home an equalising penalty after Gabriel Heinze was adjudged to have handled in the box. Into stoppage time and Lisandro combined with Pjanic to tee up Michel Bastos who put Lyon back into the lead. And after all that, there was still time for Mamadou Niang's shot to cause panic in the Lyon area and the unfortunate Toulalan had the final touch. Don't know about you, but I'm worn out reading that back.
That meant that Bordeaux got away with a defeat at Lille to remain top. The champions were off colour and were taken down a peg by the northerners who dominated throughout. Pressure finally paid off when the otherwise exemplary Cedric Carrasso parried Pierre-Alain Frau's shot to the feet of Yohan Cabaye who put it away. A late Florent Balmont penalty sealed the points. Auxerre move up to third after beating Le Mans. Jorge Andrade was helpless to prevent himself putting through his own net, his keeper Didier Ovono parrying Ireneusz Jelen's shot into his path as he tracked back. Anthony Le Tallec had a late penalty saved, compounding Le Mans' misery.
Other than the five-all draw, the big story was Grenoble winning their first point of the season in a goalless draw in Monaco. They had chances to win it, but were more indebted to an inspired goalkeeping performance by Ronan Le Crom who saved three times from Frederic Nimani to get his side off the mark.
Toulouse won a five-goal thriller against Rennes, Moussa Sissoko putting them in front on the half hour only for Asamoah Gyan to level on the stroke of half-time. Daniel Braathen and André-Pierre Gignac put Les Violets ahead, but Kader Mangane set up a tense finish. Lorient won big against free-falling Boulogne, banging five away, Kevin Gameiro and Marama Vahirua getting two each and Morgan Amalfitano nabbing the fifth. Dimitri Payet got the only goal of the game as St Etienne beat Nancy, PSG went down to a late Loic Remy goal as Nice pulled away from the bottom, Montpellier drew with Valenciennes to slightly arrest their slide and Lens grabbed a vital three points against Sochaux.
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