[Zozo the Duke]

Lyon – Toulouse

Pick: Lyon (-1.25)
Odds: 1.80 @ Easybets
Stake: 4/10

After convincing win in the first round against Nantes away 1:3 even without many important players, Lyon confirmed everyone’s expectations that they are main candidates for winning the championship again.

Toulouse had very bad schedule in the first two rounds playing away against two candidates for the top of the table and maybe two strongest teams in the league, Bordeaux and Lyon. They lost the first match from Bordeaux with 2:0

Lyon for this match will welcome back many of the missing players from the first round, the players who were on vacation after the World Cup. Houllier can count on Jouninho, Malouda, Coupet and Tiago. Also Abidal, Benhamida, Idangar, Hima, Govou, Wiltord, Müller, Beynié, Bettiol, Remy are doubtful for this match, but I can see many of them playing against Toulouse. Like Houllier said, it is very important for the team to start well in the first matches and insist his players to be concentrated.

Toulouse’s coach is expected to make some changes in the team after the loss from Bordeaux, Arribagé and Constant to replace Capoue and Taïder.Toulouse, as I said in my preview for their previous match, can only be a mid-table team. Although they brought great player in the name of Elmander, they do not posses enough quality to match with strong teams, in this case Lyon. For this match Toulouse will be without:Santos, Congré, Pentecôte, Taider who are all injured.

I expect Lyon to dominate and to show why is the best team in France for last few years. This is their first match in front of their fans and the players will want to show that they are untouchable in their own stadium. I cannot see any team matching Lyon at home and especially not teams like Toulouse who can see their only chance through counter attacks. I hope this match will not end like the meeting from the previous season when Toulouse managed to get 1:1 draw on this stadium. I hope that Lyon players will want to show on Toulouse that that night was only a bad night for them and that Lyon is the strongest team in the league. I cannot believe that I am betting on handicap on team that leads Houllier, but Lyon too much for Toulouse at the moment.