Matchday 17: PSG Good, Lyon Bad

By: Sam | December 10th, 2007

Well, it wasn’t at home, and death threats are perhaps still in circulation, but come on- do a jig, PSG are no longer part of the relegation trio, thanks to a win snatched from Auxerre at l’Abbé-Deschamps on Sunday. And who could’ve been more symbolic in scoring the only goal in that match than Péguy Luyindula? Yeah, the same guy who was playing for Auxerre last year and whose individual exploits had been akin to PSG’s results in the last little stretch.

With the three points, PSG climbs up one spot and leaves another bad surprise, Lille, in their stead in 18th spot. Les lillois helped their cause by losing 0-1 to Toulouse, who rode the in-form Johan Elmander to victory. Elmo and co. are even going north next week to keep their run going against… Paris. That’ll be on Saturday.

But of course, leading up to The Big Game on Wednesday, Alain Perrin was looking for The Confidence Win against Caen on Saturday, but came face-to-face with The Underdogs Who Are Actually Good. Wouldn’t you know it, Caen handed Lyon their fourth loss of the season thanks to a Yoann Gouffran goal following a mix-up in the Lyon defense. With Juninho, Benzema and Govou starting on the substitute’s bench, it’s easy to see what tactics Perrin was clinging to, with the Rangers match in mind. Although all three previously mentionned came on in the second half (all at once, mind you), nothing would change the score. Thanks to this victory, Caen are in eighth place, only one point off fifth, synonymous of an Intertoto Cup spot.

Speaking of Champions League, let’s not forget the immediate clash tomorrow, featuring Marseille and Liverpool. Les Olympiens prepped for that match ideally, disposing of Monaco in a chapter of Le Derby du Sud at the Vél’. Without Samir Nasri (still a maybe for tomorrow), two goals from Julien Rodriguez (offside, I know, but still) and Lorik Cana lifted them through. Djibril Cissé looks like he’s still “not that confident”, he only played single-digit minutes.

Nancy and Valenciennes couldn’t pick each other apart in a match featuring the second- and fifth-placed sides, both in positions they weren’t expecting to be in at the start of the season. With the chances they got, ASNL could have taken the three points and been at a slim two points of the leaders, but now they’ll have to settle for a four-point margin. Lucky for them, Bordeaux couldn’t get past Nice and are still at four points themselves.

Other scores: Nice 1-1 Bordeaux; Saint-Étienne 2-0 Metz; Strasbourg 3-0 Rennes; Lens 1-3 Le Mans; Lorient 2-1 Sochaux