(Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)
Lyon vs Fiorentina
Wednesday 16 September 2009,
Stade de Gerland - Lyon
Kick-Off: 20:45 CET (19:45 UK time)
Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais are attempting to rebound from what must be considered a giant failure of a 2008/09 season by their standards.
The French giants were finally dethroned as champions of France, a title they so happily claimed seven years in a row. In fact, they didn’t even place second. They came third after a dreadful spell that spanned the majority of the spring this year.
Having lost Karim Benzema to Real Madrid, Lyon were in desperate need of replacements. So, Claude Puel moved to sign Lisandro Lopez, a proven goal scorer from his time at Porto.
Lopez has already netted two of Lyon’s 13 goals through five games and has been impressive in linking up with his new team. He seems to have adjusted well and fits into the team as if he had been at the club for years.
Puel also moved to add Bafetimbi Gomis from St. Etienne, who had his struggles with a club that badly underachieved in 2008/09, but had shown real potential for the same club just a year earlier.
Lastly, he added the services of Brazilian midfielder, Michel Bastos, who had a sensational year with Lille last season. His winner on Saturday against Lorient was the only goal of the match.
Fiorentina
Fiorentina have started their season rather quietly.
Cesare Prandelli, who will bring his Fiorentina into the tournament for the second season in a row, had a rather tough path to get to the group stage as they faced a very competent Sporting Club in the third round of Champions League qualifying.
But, Prandelli will be pleased just to be playing in the Champions League as it was a very tight race for the fourth and final Champions League spot in the Serie A last season.
Fiorentina finished level on points with Genoa and with a worse goal difference. Luckily for the Viola, in Italy, the tiebreaker is decided on head-to-head results (Fiorentina won 1-0 at home and drew 3-3 away).
Fiorentina drew their first match away against Bologna in a match that lacked pace and intensity. Prandelli’s team were the better team on the afternoon, but a 1-1 split pot was a fair enough result.
In their second match, Viola beat Palermo at home 1-0 after a Stevan Jovetic goal in the first half.
In their third match of the Serie A season on Sunday, Fiorentina defeated Cagliari 1-0 thanks to an Alberto Gilardino second-half stike. Adrian Mutu did not play against Cagliari and is still doubtful for this match against Lyon.
Prediction
These clubs drew each other in the group stage of last season’s Champions League with Lyon coming out on top.
Lyon drew their home match as Alberto Gilardino’s first half brace was cancelled out by second half goals from Benzema and Frederic Piquionne.
In Florence, a very similar story unfolded as this time it was Lyon to get out to an early 2-0 lead through Jean Makoun and Benzema. Gilardino pulled one back, but Fiorentina were unable to find an equaliser. Lyon won 2-1 and advanced to the knockout stage.
These teams are fairly evenly matched. The slight advantage must go to Lyon as they are the home side, but otherwise, there’s not much separating these two.
Lyon vs Fiorentina Prediction: Lyon 2 - Fiorentina 1
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