Who Is Going to MADRID? – CL semi finals leg 2

Welcome to Lyon.  The last chance for the French to make there first ever Champions League final.

Lyon  v  Bayern Munich

The French have one chance at history.

The Stade de Gerland will be bumping with anticipation as the French are down 1 goal in aggregate to the Germans.  Lyon Coach Claude Puel sums up what his lads need to accomplish history.

“We have to win by a two-goal margin, so we need to be enterprising. Bayern are confident and they have reason to be because they dominated the first match. Let them be confident. They succeeded in pinning us back during the first leg. We can have some regrets but they can too because they could have scored more goals.”

Last week’s game was not only a hard fought game, but it carried some heavy yellow and red cards.  Some big names will be out because of suspension and a recent slew of injuries will hold out even more.  Munich is without Anatoliy Tymoshchuk because an ill stomach and the midfield is without two play-makers Danijel Pranjić and Franck Ribéry.  While Lyon will be missing François Clerc (knee), Joan Hartock (ruptured Achilles), Mathieu Bodmer (hamstring) and then Jérémy Toulalan on card suspension.   Both teams also have a group of players that will be game-time decisions.  Bayern’s doubtful list includes: Martín Demichelis (calf), Daniel Van Buyten (calf), Diego Contento (leg), and Miroslav Klose.  Lyon may have to play without: Jean II Makoun (groin), Lisandro (ankle), Jean-Alain Boumsong (calf).

Lyon do have the luxury of being undefeated at home and they’ll need all the help they can get from their rabid fans.

Lyon do have a fun little bit of trivia – they are the only team so far to have had a player sent off in the last three matches of CL play.

Players to Watch:

Lyon – Cris – The Captain has a chance to lead his squad to a historic berth in the finals.

The Brazilian veteran will have to be vocal and outgoing for his club tonight.  He’s a more stay at home defender and with Bayern Munich’s goal coming from a solid midfield push, Cris has to recognize the full threat of the Germans.  Without veterans Boumsong and Clerc, Cris will have to rely once again on youngster Anthony Réveillère to add the spark (only Lyon defender with goal-scoring ability – 1 CL goal to his name).  Also Aly Cissokho has played well in the back with Cris’ leadership helping hold everything together.  Composure and heart are what Cris has and needs to push onto his teammates tonight.

Bayern Munich – Arjen Robben – The Dutch Midfielder has been on a goal-scoring tear.

4 straight champions league games with goals.   Since the new year the 26 year old has scored 16 goals in 20 total matches (German Bundesliga and Champion League games).  Can we say the most electric talent outside of Lionel Messi?  Arjen has been one of the hardest covers in the game and a big reason why my love of the Dutch national team has hit an all-time high (I’ve picked the Dutch to win the last two world cups and last four European championships – they finally may live up to there immense talent – don’t worry PSD will have a HUGE World Cup series!!)  He netted the goal in Munich that has the Germans up 1 and if Lyon aren’t careful the agile mid will do it again.  Plain and simple Arjen Robben should be in line to take home the FIFA World Player of the Year.

Yeah I’m still going with the Germans.  I do think Lyon will score but they can’t hold off the German attack either.  A 3-2 game will see the Germans pull off the same 3-2 losing advance they pulled off against Manchester United.  Bayern Munich storms into Madrid with one of the world’s most potent goal-scorers.