Lyon lapse opens door for renaissant OM

It’s been a mad March for league leaders across the continent. Manchester United let Liverpool back into the Premier League title race in 90 crazy minutes at Old Trafford; in Spain, Barça’s once-handsome lead over Real has been slashed to six points; Bayern’s domestic travails mean that the Bundesliga is now a five-horse race; even impregnable Inter have conceded a little ground in the hunt for the scudetto. Next we’ll be hearing news from across the channel that unassailable Lyon are in danger of failing to top Ligue 1 for the first time in eight long years. Well, dear readers, that might just be the case; as Claude Puel’s boys stumbling form has finally brought the wolves to the door.

For the first time in near-on a decade, it’s on. The leaders’ 0-2 loss to Auxerre – brought about by defensive errors from Jean-Alain Boumsong (who’d have guessed?) and the usually dependable ‘keeper, Hugo Lloris – added extra weight to the playing of ‘Le Clasico: Part Deux’ late on Sunday evening. Paris Saint Germain hosted their fierce rivals from the south, Olympique Marseille, knowing that three points would see them usurp Lyon as table-toppers. The visitors from the Mediterranean coast, meanwhile, could draw level with PSG in second place if they could overturn their shock 2-4 defeat in October’s reverse fixture.

As the heavy early fog of the pre-match flares dispersed, Marseille emerged from the smoke the stronger of the two contenders; the Parisians clearly burdened by the weight of expectation which swilled around the packed Parc des Princes. Having been fortunate to survive the drop last term, PSG now faced an altogether different pressure, as the prospect of a first title since 1994 looms large.

The opening goal came as a direct result of an ultra-rare Claude Makelele error. The ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid midfield shield, who might retire at season’s end, uncharacteristically fluffed possession in his own half, allowing January signing Brandão to cleverly backheel a pass into the path of on-charging Bolo Zenden. Some quick footwork and a tidy finish by the veteran Dutchman gave OM a merited lead.

Marseille coach Eric Gerets surprisingly preferred Zenden to Hatem Ben Arfa and Brandao to bustling target-man Mamadou Niang, still recovering from a foot injury, but was quickly vindicated by the pair’s incisive impact. The gruff Belgian also opted to hand Tyrone Mears a rare start at right back, though the Englishman coped admirably with being thrown into the cauldron of France’s national ‘derby’ having spent months on the bench. Having controversially escaped the nightmare which was Derby County under Paul Jewell, a sojourn in the sultry French port must have its attractions, even if playing time has been at a premium. Mears was the last man, but by no means wholly culpable, as evergreen forward Ludo Giuly deftly escaped the offside trap to carefully place an equaliser past Steve Mandanda in the Marseille goal.

It was an undeserved reward for an out-fought and out-thought PSG side as half-time approached. Just when the home team looked as if they might be capable of snatching a win, and with it top spot, their dreams of domestic supremacy imploded before the eyes of the Parisian faithful.

Early in the second period, Zoumana Camara crudely brought down Zenden on the periphery of the penalty area; resulting in a red card for the one-time Inter Milan (and, briefly, Leeds) defender and a free-kick in dangerous territory for Marseille. Zenden’s kick stung the palms of Mickael Landreau, but Bakari Koné fortuitously (for he knew little about it) diverted in the rebound. PSG were now a goal and a man down and, even with more than half-an-hour to go, unlikely to recover.

Paul Le Guen’s re-organisation left three against three at the back; the makeshift backline helmed by 19-year-old prodigy Mamadou Sakho. Recent Marseille signing Sylvain Wiltord watched on from the stands in the company of Patrick Vieira – fresh from his inglorious return to Old Trafford – as his new team-mates effectively concluded matters shortly after. Once an employee of PSG, Marseille’s skipper Lorik Cana took great delight in firing a low, deflected shot past the outstretched arms of Landreau.

That killer third goal quashed any lingering dreams of a home revival, yet there was still time for Giuly, inevitably diminishing in pace but still retaining sharpness of mind (and a great foil for tall striker Guillaume Hoareau) to fire a ferocious volley at goal following an innovative free-kick routine. The diminutive attacker was denied even the consolation of a spectacular second goal though, as Mandanda pulled off a world-class reaction save low to his right. It was a stop, allied to the consistently brilliant accuracy and length of the ‘keeper’s kicking out of hand, that surely impressed the on-looking national coach, Raymond Domenech. Once a trialist at Aston Villa, Kinshasa-born Mandanda has started the World Cup qualifying campaign as first choice no.1 and, on this evidence, will be a worthy successor to Grégory Coupet.

In losing at the Stade Gerland for the first time this season, the aura of impregnability which once surrounded Coupet’s former club, Lyon, has been well and truly punctured. They cannot afford their obvious Champions League hangover to continue any further into the championship run-in. Puel must hope that star man Karim Benzema, too, can shake the torpor which has dogged his previous progress since admitting he wants out of the club, earlier this season.

For once, the big clubs and their impressive management – Messrs Gerets, Le Guen, and Blanc (of Bordeaux) are all capable of ending the monopoly – are sincerely threatening the monotonous supremacy of the little-loved Lyonnais. Even Lille and upstarts Toulouse have a decent shot at glory; each lurking a mere four points behind the leaders. As Bolo Zenden says: “Now, the league is wide open.”

Benzema takes the plaudits for unassailable Lyon

Lyon’s Stade Gerland hosted, on Sunday night, what could prove the definitive game of the Ligue 1 season. The billing – Lyon v Bordeaux; Claude Puel v Laurent Blanc; Karim Benzema v Yoann Gourcuff – was impressive. Future captains and, perhaps, coaches of the French national team went head-to-head in the final game of a weekend which had already seen the newly-installed dream (or nightmare) team of Damien Comolli and Alain Perrin ‘guide’ struggling St Etienne to a record 6^th loss on the trot. No, they haven’t lost that golden touch.

In 07/08, Lyon’s home and away double over their rivals decided the destiny of the title. Last year’s top two came together this time with champions Lyon already a healthy six points clear of Les Girondins at kick-off.

On Saturday evening, fellow title-contenders Marseille had imploded against little Lorient – blowing a two-goal advantage in the last quarter-of-an-hour to slip-up in the most spectacular fashion; 2-3. Once again, it was down to Blanc’s Bordeaux to do the chasing.

The game arrived against the backdrop of an explosive clash between the clubs at boardroom level. Since Milan made it publicly known that their man Gourcuff’s season-long loan with Bordeaux might be made a more permanent arrangement for a fee in the region of €15m – thereby inviting higher counter-offers from other clubs – things turned nasty between the men in suits.

Lyon’s canny president Jean Michel-Aulas (who has extracted a pretty penny out of Chelsea, among others, of late) agreed, in an interview, that Gourcuff would make a fine purchase and that money was no object in the pursuit of his acquisition. Bordeaux were, understandably, riled at this Calderon-esque loud-mouthing on the eve of such a crucial game. Aulas belatedly tried to shift the blame onto the L’Equipe journalist to which he had blabbed. The damage, however, was already done.

Bordeaux wasted little time in laying out their intentions. Fernando’s indecent hacking of Lyon veteran Juninho received only a booking, despite the fact it was so late Wembley’s construction team would’ve been ashamed of it – and that poor old Juninho ended up in face-down in the dugout, such was its ferocity.

Throughout the first half-hour, the unremitting physicality of the game recalled a particularly grim East Lancashire derby, rather than a showcase of the intricate talents of la crème de la Ligue 1. This period, though, incorporated the visitors’ best spell of the match. In fact, Bordeaux were dominant: Jean-Alain Boumsong made a superb last-ditch block on Marouane Chamakh’s goal-bound effort; Hugo Lloris tipped over Gourcuff’s 30-yard pile-driver at full stretch; and Kim Kallström hacked off the line following a dangerous Bordeaux corner.

The influence of Gourcuff, sporting the no.8 shirt like his playmaking and set-piece taking counterpart Juninho, began to flower – a fine range of accurate cross-field passes featured strongly his early play. Yet, not all-together surprisingly, it was the home side’s undisputed star man who broke the deadlock.

Lyon’s opener came entirely against the run-of-play and owed more than a fair share to the sharpness of a touchline ball-boy. Bordeaux defender Marc Planus kept Benzema in his back pocket for the opening 32 minutes. In 33^rd, however, having hoofed a clearance deep into the stands, Planus switched off for just a second. That was all it took for Benzema to receive the ball from a quick throw-in and then maraud past the rest of the Bordeaux rearguard. A cute one-two with strike-partner Fred allowed the in-form forward to slip the ball left-footed past Mathieu Valverde.

With Blanc’s men still reeling, Lyon struck the hammer blow just five minutes later.

Kallström made a characteristic driving run past Matthieu Chalmé and fired into the top corner – with the considerable help of a deflection off the heels of the hapless Planus – from the edge of the area. Bordeaux’s palpable frustration at their sudden capitulation was summed up by hatchet-man Fernando’s blatant elbow on Kallström, which – unseen by the referee – went unpunished.

The second-half fight-back barely materialised, with wasteful winger Wendel and the increasingly erratic Gourcuff fluffing a series of half-chances. It was Gourcuff’s ill-judged selfishness and decreasing lack of awareness in adversity that calls into question his readiness for the highest stage.

Sporadic appearances at San Siro as deputy to Kaká left his obvious talent unfulfilled, but sparkling form at the Parc Lescure club this season saw Gourcuff – son of Lorient boss Christian – promoted to international status – and to great effect. Unconvincing displays against Chelsea and in this game, though, leave a number of questions left unanswered for potential transfer window suitors.

Perhaps the early incident with Fernando had adversely affected Juninho’s notorious ability with the static ball; all night long his radar was as crooked as a yacht-based George Osborne/Jeffrey Archer tête-à-tête. Puel finally withdrew the 33-year-old in the 80^th minute. Within seconds, substitute Fernando Cavenaghi snatched a goal back for Bordeaux: profiting from a concentration lapse in the Lyon defence to prod home, unmarked, his seventh of the season.

Alongside David Bellion, the Argentinean striker had been dropped to leave the tireless Chamakh to head-up Blanc’s 4-5-1. Cavenaghi is now Ligue 1’s second-top scorer with eight goals.

At the top of the charts (with 9) is the irrepressible Benzema. He could, quite conceivably, have scored another either side of what turned out to be Bordeaux’s consolation: twice in succession skinning poor, bedraggled Planus and forcing ‘keeper Valverde to get on his bike to stop powerful shots with either foot.

Last week, the 20-year-old all but declared his availability to Europe’s leading clubs come the end of the season. Some starlets head abroad too soon, chasing glamour and big bucks before their development is complete (Gourcuff being a prime example). Whichever continental super-power Benzema ends up at though, they need not fret over his ability to adapt.

Direct, explosively powerful, and genuinely two-footed; the hottest prospect in Ligue 1 recalls Ronaldo at his very best. Once he’s fired his side to an 8^th straight title and helped his country further towards the 2010 World Cup, President Aulas will be, once more, able to reap the rewards of the Lyon production line. Let the bidding war commence.

Hazard’s perception makes him one to watch

It’s a name that might conjure up images of shiny red apples, devilish serpents and everyone’s favourite fig-leaf-wearing sinners: Adam and Eve. But don’t be misled. Rather than some kind of an obscure biblical warning, Eden Hazard is, in fact, the wonderfully colourful name of one of European football’s most promising talents.

The 17-year-old Belgian’s adept balls skills, elusive dribbling, and almost preternatural on-field awareness have long distinguished him as a potential star of the future to scouts across the continent. Hazard, though, is reluctant to wait too long for his apparently golden future to come to fruition. Already, the attacking midfielder or trequartista (an Italian term for the traditional no.10) has made a considerable impression on the first team of his French club, Lille.

Hazard first came to the attention of many observers with his captivating displays in the 2007 UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship; held in his homeland. The attractive Belgian side he orchestrated fell only at the semi-final stage of the competition – exiting, on penalties, at the hands of a Bojan Krkić-inspired Spain. Throughout, the considerable qualities of the lad from La Louvière shone through like a beacon.

The flicks and tricks within his repertoire impressed, of course. But it was his innate ability to conjure a clinical through-ball from nothing that set the scouts of many a major European club frantically scribbling superlatives in their well-worn notepads. Inevitably, the vultures will circle, but – for now – Hazard remains committed to breaking through in Ligue 1.

He’s yet another one off the Lille production line – which has produced such luminaries as Lyon’s Jean Makoun, the Cheyrou brothers, and, er, Pascal Cygan (ok, so they can’t get it right all of the time). The present side, under the guidance of Rudy Garcia following the summer departure of Claude Puel to imperious Lyon, plays neat, attractive football, but patently lacks a cutting edge. As of now, the creative burden lies heavily on the shoulders of Ludovic Obraniak. In the mid-to-long term, Hazard might assume that responsibility on a full-time basis.

In his brief cameos to date, Lille’s Belgian prodigy has habitually illuminated proceedings. Hazard’s first senior goal came at the thrilling climax of their last-gasp 3-2 win over Auxerre, in September. Just a quarter-of-an-hour after his introduction, in place of Slovak striker Róbert Vittek, he’d grabbed a dramatic 88^th-minute equaliser – Túlio de Melo then grabbed the winner in injury time.

There have since been further impressively confident displays from the bench.

Just last week; with time running out, trailing by a goal to nil against the grim defensive blockade that is the Paris St Germain first team, ball-playing Lille were going nowhere fast. Coach Garcia looked to his young star for inspiration. Following his late arrival from the sidelines, Hazard – on a number of occasions – sliced through PSG’s resolute defence with an ease which had plainly eluded his more senior colleagues. This time out, there was to be no miracle resurrection – but the young man once more left with his reputation enhanced.

He has now firmly succeeded Kévin Mirallas (now at Saint-Etienne) as Lille’s young Belgian hope. The talented pair are not alone, though. There is a gifted new generation emerging in Belgium – a nation which has drifted, lately, into becoming a footballing backwater, despite its illustrious past.

They are led by the skipper of Jupiler League champions Standard Liège; cultured 20-year-old midfielder Steven Defour. Much-admired winger Axel Witsel (aged 19) and Marouane Fellaini (record buy at Everton, aged 20), along with Defour, made up Standard’s championship-winning midfield last year.

Elsewhere; Jan Vertonghen (Ajax, aged 21); Moussa Dembélé (AZ Alkmaar, 21); and Genoa’s Anthony Vanden Borre (also 21) are thriving. Man City’s colossal centre-half/midfield anchorman Vincent Kompany might seem to have been around forever, but is still just 22.

The ‘other’ Red Devils might have to wait a few years for this burgeoning crop to reach full maturity, but when it does, Hazard could conceivably find himself at the forefront of a Belgian side to rival those of the early-to-mid 80s.

At just 5ft 7ins and slight of build, doubts will be raised about his ability to adapt to the cut and thrust of, say, the Premier League or Serie A. Yet, he has time on his side to develop physically and, despite popular perception, size isn’t everything.

It is for his mercurial talent with a ball at his feet that Eden Hazard will be feted in years to come. With the right application and a little fortune, the little maestro might be capable of emulating the achievements of Scifo, Wilmots and van Himst. Let’s just hope temptation won’t lead Eden astray.