Champions League: Lyon loses 2-0 to Rome



Police were stationed outside of Place Bellecour before the game tonight between Rome and OL. Evidently some fans have made their way over from Rome for the trip and just to prevent any sort of violence between fans of opposing teams ....

Lyon lost to Rome at home, in a match where they played miserably. Nothing seemed to work right for the team at home, where they are generally invincible and had already had an inspired 2-0 victory over giants Real Madrid early last fall.

The sports newspapers are talking about the end of an era: OL is almost sure to win its sixth consecutive league championship, but with key players in the midfield set to retire within one or two years, it may be a while before Lyon has enough firepower to hold its own past the quarterfinals of the Champions League, where the best teams throughout Europe play.

As good as they are, I (as a fan) couldn't help but feel the big gap in the quality of play between the Italian league and the French league.

There's a league match this weekend to boost morale with arch-rival Marseille. I'll be going to that on Sunday night, but believe me, it won't ease the fans' disappointment of Lyon's early exit from the Champions League.