Tuesday, April 27, 2010
LYON against Bayern is a semi-final clash no one expected, and so far it has lived down to expectations.
Arjen Robben’s deflected shot has given the German club an advantage that should have been greater on the balance of play. Lyon seemed intent on survival in Munich, leaving Lisandro Lopez on his own up front to hunt for scraps, even during the period when they had an extra man.
An away goal would surely put Bayern through to their first final since 2001, when they beat Valencia.
They have all the European pedigree – this is semi-final number 13 in their European Cup/Champions League history – whereas Lyon’s best effort before this year was the semi-final of the old Cup Winners’ Cup, nearly half a century ago.
Lyon will also probably miss the suspended Jeremy Toulalan more than Bayern will miss Franck Ribery.
Toulalan has made the difference to the Lyon defence on numerous occasions this season – both in the holding role and at centre back, as Liverpool fans will recall. Ribery is possibly grateful to be missing this game. The allegations about his private life are serious enough, and threaten to disrupt French preparations for the World Cup, but the fact that he used to play for Marseille would have guaranteed a hostile reception.
Yet although the odds favour Bayern they do go into this match with several defenders not fully fit. Both Martin Demichelis and Daniel Van Buyten were injured in Saturday’s draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach and emergency Ukrainian defender Anatoliy Tymoshchuk has a virus.
Louis Van Gaal has introduced several youngsters in the past few months, but he will be glad to have the 33-year-old Mark Van Bommel back in midfield to lead the side.
Van Bommel can be a liability sometimes – he’s been fortunate to escape a red card on a couple of occasions this season – but he has now played over 100 European matches compared to just two for Diego Contento who could start at centre back.
Bayern also have the sense of security that comes from leading the Bundesliga, even if they are level on points with Schalke. They ought to win the title, given their easier run-in.
By contrast Lyon are all but out of the domestic contest. Drawn games have cost them, recently at Bordeaux, the champions, whose season has fallen apart over the past few weeks.
Twelve points behind Marseille with five games to play, Lyon could even face a struggle to fill the third Champions League qualifying spot, despite having gone the whole season unbeaten at home.
Lyon’s coming two games – at Montpellier, one point ahead of them, on Sunday, and then against second-placed Auxerre – will define their season. It’s a tough prospect to face after tonight’s challenge.
To their credit, they have gone on competing against the odds. In the autumn they were struggling in the league and had all four first-choice centre backs out injured at the same time. At one point they went eight games with just one win and four defeats. Two players who have kept them in the hunt, and could do so again tonight, are their goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Lisandro up front.
Lloris has definitely become France’s first-choice keeper this season, ahead of Steve Mandanda of Marseille.
He defied the republic of Ireland in the play-offs and has taken the same form into the Champions League for his club. Right now he’s perhaps the best goalkeeping prospect in Europe.
Lisandro has carried the attack this season, along with winger Michel Bastos.
Bastos is an injury doubt for this match, along with centre back and captain Cris, so even more weight will fall on the Argentinian’s shoulders.
He’s become a popular figure since his transfer from Porto last summer – nominated as the best sportsman in the country by L’Equipe – and he could be the player who makes the difference if Bayern are deprived of their first-choice defence.
"The team must change its mentality," he said yesterday. Lyon have shown they can do that before this season and Bayern will have to be wary that it doesn’t happen again.
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