Matchday 18 - Business as somewhat usual

By: Sam | December 18th, 2006

Gotta love that picture! This weekend, one match was on everyone’s mind. THE big ‘un, the newest 2nd-place team, Racing Club de Lens was welcoming Olympique Lyonnais, full of hope to break away from the pack. Sigh. 4-0. Juninho, ill with the Pélé syndrome, was having the game of his life, scoring on a stunning free kick for the first goal, and a flawless strike on a sorry Itandje to cap off the scoring. Malouda scored the second one, and almost added his second, but Cris was johnny on the spot to have it himself. I probably confused you with that string of goal descriptions, but it’s my new invention, called “Lyon-opponent-vision”. Realistic, no?

Marseille had definitely brought their best for last week’s game against Monaco, for Djibril Cissé’s return to the pitch. This week was slightly different, the celebration being Cissé’s first start. Saturday in Nancy, Marseille were taken down by the out-of-the-blue talented northern French side, who recently progressed to the latter stages of the UEFA Cup.

Nancy scored two great goals to solidify Marseille’s inconsistency.

In the game that saw Saint-Étienne into third place, les Verts were having a go at the struggling Valenciennes at home. After surviving a thrashing attack from the visitors early on, Ilan capped off some crazy action of his team’s own, and put the home side in front. He proceeded to assist on the second goal, scored by Feindouno. Landrin killed all hopes late in the match by scoring on a acrobatic volley.

In the upset of the day, last-place (and still last place, mind you) Sedan were taking on Lille, third. Half an hour into the game, Pujol’s deflected strike found net, and four minutes later, Marin doubled on a golden pass from the same Pujol. Only the second win of the season for the promoted club, which will probably earn them appreciation from a cluster of clubs vying for the top spots.

Oh, and remember how I said Paris had woken up? Well, they’re back to sweet slumber, it seems, salvaging a sleepy (whoa, alliteration!) draw at home against 17th placed Nice. Still chillin’ at the growingly familiar 15th place, Paris seems to be in one of its worst seasons ever.

Other scores: Le Mans 2-0 Toulouse; Monaco 3-0 Sochaux; Nantes 0-0 Bordeaux; Rennes 1-1 Troyes; Auxerre 2-1 Lorient