Benfica vs. Lyon (Friendly) – Match Preview

With Lyon’s preseason halfway complete, the team will need to step up as they begin facing tougher opponents. Their performances so far against FC Sion (2-2 draw), Fulham (4-0 win), Huddersfield (4-1 loss), and Wolfsburg (2-1 win) have been unconvincing snooze fests. Their next three opponents are Benfica, Inter Milan, and Chelsea, whose teams will pose a considerable challenge even as friendlies.

The tournament they are participating is called the Internationals Champions Cup. By invite only, it’s basically a handpicked group of 18 clubs that the organizers feel can generate the most ticket sales (Lyon were included when Sevilla dropped out). Clubs can earn between €3m to €6m per game (loser vs winner). Each club plays three others, and in the event of a tie, it will go to penalties. At the end of the tournament, the club with the most points wins.

Even though these are friendlies, it’s provided some dramatic match ups so far. Barcelona gets to play Roma (awkward), Real Madrid will play Juventus (awkward), and Manchester United got trounced by Liverpool.

Tomorrow is also the Eusebio Cup, a yearly Benfica tradition. The winner gets a trophy of Eusebio!

Wednesday, August 1st
Estadio Algarve, Algarve
4:05 PM EST (22:05 CET, 21:05 UST)

Advertisement

Lyon 2 – 1 Wolfsburg: 90 minutes of your life you’ll never get back

I don’t even know why I bothered to watch this game when the players themselves can’t be bothered to play. They basically showed up an hour before the match and then had a casual game of kick about. At least that’s what it felt like to everyone except maybe Bruno Genesio, who seems to think that barely scraping by relegation-level teams is an ok result.

My 10 year old cousin has a more aggressive coach than Lyon does at the moment. Maybe Aulas should start looking for his next manager in the Washington DC youth league.

Manager of a Champions League team or a group of ten year old kids?

Huddersfield 3 – 1 Lyon: Dear God, Gorgelin

Yeah, yeah, it’s just a friendly. It doesn’t mean anything, blah blah blah. But watch the highlight video posted below and then tell me you aren’t freaking out a little bit? Take a long look at the guy who’s going to be standing between the sticks for Lyon’s first two league games and possibly the International Champions Cup matches as well.

Goals: Kongolo 68′, Depoitre 80′, 89, (Huddersfield), Cornet 50′ (Lyon)

The above picture exemplifies the whole match

Huddersfield Town vs Lyon (Friendly) – Match Preview

After Brave Lyon vanquished the invaders from Fulham last weekend, Bruno Genesio and his faithful knights continue on their pre-season quest to battle other foreign armies. They do this in order to ready themselves for their ultimate foe, the Champions League. Should they slay this dragon, they will be rewarded with what King Aulas desires above all else, the monstrous trophy with the big ears.

(I have it on good authority that this trophy is basically a cup filled with the tears of Arsenal fans).

Lyon’s coming for you next.

July 25th, 2018
Kirklees Stadium, Huddersfield
2:45 PM EST (20:45, CET, 19:45 GMT)

Lyon vs. Fulham (Friendly) – Match Preview

Although most clubs have already started playing preseason friendlies, they are only now starting in earnest since the World Cup is over. Players called up to their national teams will slowly be drifting back and adjusting back to the day to day reality of their clubs.

Overshadowing this happy time is the mercato. Lyon will undoubtedly lose some players but may also gain a few as well. No one knows just yet, not even Bruno Génésio, who wakes up every morning not knowing which of his players will actually be at training.

That sucks.

Martin Terrier’s debut against FC Sion

July 21, 2018
Stade Pierre Rajon, Bourgoin-Jallieu
3 PM Eastern Time (21:00 CET, 20:00 GMT)