PSG climbs the table with a victory over Lyonnais

By: j | November 22nd, 2008

In front of a highly supportive Parc des Princes crowd, PSG defeated Olympique Lyonnais 1-0 on the strength of Ludovic Giuly’s goal twenty-five minutes into the match. The victory pushes PSG into a three-way tie for third place with Olympique Marseille and Stade Rennais with twenty-six points. Going into the match Lyon manager Claude Puel was handcuffed with a multitude of injuries and in conjunction with a challenging schedule that includes a Champions League match on Tuesday against Fiorentina, had a number of difficult tactical decisions. With Juninho on the bench at the start of the match and with Fabio Grosso’s injury the typical Lyon attack lacked the same bite and allowed PSG to slowly gain a foothold in the match and become the aggressor. The already difficult situation took a turn for the worse for the visitors as Anthony Réveillère suffered a knee injury and seventeen year-old Timothée Kolodziejczak was deputized into duty. At the twenty-fifth minute Ceará sent a stunning cross from the far right wing across to a poorly marked Ludovic Giuly who headed the ball in. The defending champions came close to leveling the match but as per the case so often this year Mickaël Landreau held them at bay. At the hour mark the match which already possessed a peculiar story line added another very unique twist as Claude Puel called upon captain Juninho for Karim Benzema. The always dangerous Juninho picked the Lyonnais attack up but without luck became frustrated and the match deteriorated into a series of very chippy fouls. The crescendo came with fourteen minutes remaining when Juninho fouled Sylvain Armand in a menacing fashion that not only drew a straight red-card but will likely draw further suspension. Lyonnais came with a whisper of leveling the match but it was not to be and PSG took a 1-0 victory. Notably for PSG, Stéphane Sessegnon had probably his finest moment for the club and is playing at a work rate and level of fitness far beyond his history.