Stade de Gerland, Lyon will see seven-time Ligue 1 champions http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-Lyonnais-c40130 play host to AC Ajaccio in a Ligue 1 encounter in which both sides would be looking to grab all three points
In recent times in Ligue 1, Stade de Gerland, home of Olympique Lyonnais has been the place to go for goals. And, Les Gones fans would be hoping that this will be the case when AC Ajaccio come to town this Sunday.
Goal galore
In the last 15 Ligue 1 games at Stade de Gerland, a whooping 64 goals have been scored. Already this season, Lyon fans have seen their beloved side win 4-1 and 3-2 against Troyes and Valenciennes respectively. Since Remi Garde took over reins of the team
last summer, watching Lyon play has not been an easy thing for the club’s fans.
However, one cannot doubt the fact that Lyon’s games certainly give value for the money and indeed, the new-look side is heading towards the right direction.
Lyon head into the game against Ajaccio second in place in Ligue 1 standings and a win against the Corsicans will see the Rhone giants lead the Championnat at least for a few hours before Marseille play against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Jean-c18112 Fernandez Nancy Lorraine.
The summer transfer window saw the club lose out on the services of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arnold-Mvuemba-c6641 and former
player http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Steed-Malbranque-c33957.
Remi Garde is satisfied with the way the team has started the new campaign but feels that the team is yet to show its best. This week will be a busy one for Lyon who will play against http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Czech-Republic-c2882 giants Sparta Prague at home in the Europe League group
stages after the Ajaccio game.
While talking to Le Progres, Garde said that in terms of points, the team has been good but admitted that the performance levels have not been consistent enough.
“In terms of our play, we have alternated between the good and the not so good. There was our first-half display at Rennes, and then other times in which we have been forced to chase games. Just like last season, really, we must do better.”
New arrivals
The arrival of Malbranque and Monzon means that Garde will have a lot of depth in his squad which is a young one for that matter.
If history is taken into perspective, Lyon are heavy favourites to win the match. In the last 11 home games against Ajaccio in Ligue 1, Lyon have won 10 times with the other one being a 1-1 draw from last season.
Promising start and a Romanian hope
Ajaccio on the other hand, will arrive at the Rhone club in good spirits after a good start to the campaign. The Corsican club would also be hoping to introduce marquee signing Adrian Mutu in the game for the first time ever.
However, despite the Romanian not being fully fit, coach http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Alex-c4752 Dupont feels that the striker can have an impact on the game.
“He came here with plenty of desire and enthusiasm, and that comes across the pitch. He is a good guy. He is not 100 percent and we are working on his fitness. But he is keen to show us what he can do.”
The Corsicans have already won against Nice and Evian TG this season and also managed to hold Paris Saint-Germain to a 0-0 draw in Week 3 meaning that Lyon will not be in for an easy ride this afternoon.
Thanks to Mexican international http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Guillermo-Ochoa-c15350, Ajaccio have managed to keep three clean sheets so far this season. Touted as potential relegation candidates before the start of the current campaign following a two-point deduction, the former Stade Brestois
coach is confident that his team can enjoy the new campaign without relegation worries.
“It is too early to draw any conclusions but I am confident. I have a good squad, a good team, with a blend of youth and experience. We gave ourselves the objective of avoiding relegation but we have not set any limits.”
Team News
Lyon
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Yoann-Gourcuff-c37416 will miss four more weeks of the Championnat after injuring his right knee in the 4-1 win over Troyes. Lisandro Lopez and Fabian Monzon are set to feature in the game.
Ajaccio
Romanian international http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Adrian-Mutu-c3742 is hoping to make his Ligue 1 debut at the Stade de Gerland but Arnaud Maire still needs time to recover from a calf tear.
Predicted final score
Ajaccio have made a promising start to the new campaign but Lyon will prove to be a tougher proposition considering the form they are in right now.
Final score: Lyon 2-1 Ajaccio
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