Ligue 1 and Liga Sagres Update
January 30th, 2010 | Author: Ben
In the stands frequently brings you top quality articles and updates you on the major leagues in Europe but I thought that maybe I should give a brief update on whats going on in France and Portugal. If theres any leagues that people want me to do an update for (within reason), I will aim to do so.
France
Last years champions Bordeaux are currently, to put it blankly, dicking Ligue 1. 48 points after just 22 games while second place Monaco have only 39. In mid-december they beat Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon 1-0 with a solitary goal from Chamakh. They also beat Monaco at the end of October although they did suffer a slight dip in form with losses against Lille and Valenciennes in successive matches. Both Chamakh and Gourcuff have been their most outstanding players so far.
Olympique Lyonnais have struggled this season and are currently joint fifth with both Auxerre and Marseille on 36 points. Lyon and Marseille did play out an amazing game though in early November. I assume that most of you saw the 9-1 game at White Hart Lane, well this was probably better; 5-5 at the Stade de Gerland! Lyon opened the scoring with Pjanic, Marseille drew even with a goal from Diawara but Govou got Lyon’s second in the 14th minute. Just before half-time Cheyrou scored the equaliser and Marseille continued the goal scoring straight after half-time with a goal from Kone. Brandao put the score at 2-4 to Marseille in the 74th minute but then Lopez scored a brace for Lyon to make it 4-4. Come stoppage time and Michel Bastos scored what he perceived to be the winner. Cue Toulalan to be left red-faced with an own goal in the 92nd minute. What a game for the neutral!
At the other end of the table, Grenoble sit at the bottom of the table with just seven points and one win while Boulogne and Le Mans both have 16 points.
Portugal
Braga and Benfica currently top the table after 17 games and after losing only one game each this season so far, both finding themselves with 42 points and the head-to-head results rule dividing them. Braga won 2-0 against Benfica earlier in the season although the goal differences of both teams are very different. 37 goals for Benfica compared to 18 for Braga would suggest that if Benfica can get a good result against Braga in the return match, the league could look very different. Oscar Cardozo has topped the goal scoring charts so far and with 15 goals in 13 games it suggests he should be playing in a better league.
Porto lie six points behind the league leaders and have struggled at times this season but Falcao has managed 13 goals this season and with the champions league coming up soon, they will be hoping to push on in the second half of the season. Sporting have also struggled and lie 15 points behind Braga and Benfica, losing to liga sagres leaders last week to a solitary goal from Paulo Cesar.
Belenenses and Vitoria de Setubal currently hold the relegation spots with 11 and 13 points respectively.
Not much else to add so I will leave you all with this. Hope its been informative.
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top round up mate, nice work