Matchday 19 – Lyon doesn’t win. No, I mean it

By: Sam | December 23rd, 2006

It’s been done by Toulouse, Rennes and Real Madrid. Monaco, now. That’s the prestigious club of clubs (oooh) that have managed to not lose against the mighty Lyon. Twenty-two wins, two draws and a loss.

Mysteriously, for every year since 2001/2002, Lyon has not won on its last game of the calendar year. Those are, yes the five years where the latter team has finished quite first on the table. Go figure.

But this Sunday, at home in Stade Gerland, against the 15th-ranked AS Monaco, the leaders of Ligue 1 couldn’t manage a single goal, and had to settle for a draw. That’s no Christmas present, but they can take comfort in knowing that at this pace they’ll finish a mere 30 points in front of second place.

Paris Saint-Germain, as if I hadn’t said it enough, continued to advertise mediocrity, this time drawing against currently relegatable Troyes.

Sochaux and Nancy, two teams you don’t know much about but are making headlines in the hexagon. 3rd and 7th respectively, the two capped off their 2006 with a clash at Sochaux’s Stade Auguste Bonal Sunday. The hosts got two quick goals in the second half to nullify Nancy’s quick start and they took it 2-1.

Lens, second place without deserving it that much, came from behind this weekend at Nice to stay behind (and well behind) Lyon. Two goals within 5 minutes from Jussiê and Dindane got le Sang et Or the three points.

Other scores: Bordeaux 1-0 Le Mans; Lille 1-1 Auxerre; Lorient 0-0 Rennes; Toulouse 0-4 Nantes; Valenciennes 2-1 Sedan