[Marco4]

TOTW – LILLE OSC
THE PAST

Before France’s top flight became the stomping ground of Paris Saint-Germain and after Lyon’s cycle of dominance came to an end, Ligue 1 was one of Europe’s more interesting propositions. Montpellier were unlikely champions, Marseille were familiar but long-term underachieving champions and, in a season whose repercussions are still being felt around Europe, Lille were champions – Top Dogues, if you will (their nickname is Les Dogues – it’s a mastiff).

Rudi Garcia (now at Roma) was coach of that team that contained a number of players who have gone on to other clubs – some successfully, some less so. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) was a leading light, as was Adil Rami (AC Milan) while Gervinho (Roma) and Mathieu Debuchy (Arsenal) were also enjoying career highlights at the time. It was a pleasure to watch such a dynamic team and, in winning Ligue 1, Garcia brought back success to a city that had been without it since the 1950s, when Lille – not more than a decade since their formation in 1944 – were a regular in the Coupe de France Final, winning five of seven as well as a couple of Ligue 1 titles.

Fives are a popular number in the city – LOSC (the current club) formed from a couple of clubs who disbanded at the end of the war – one of them by the name of Fives – an area of the city that’s south-east of the railway station if you go in by Eurostar. The other was Olympique Lillois, who won the first ever French league trophy. Fives and OL were pretty big sides at the time, so the fact they were willing to merge gives you a bit of an idea of how badly that area of France was hit by WWII – not that there’s any doubting the fact.

Anyway, after their two Ligue 1 victories, Lille rather disappeared from the scene; impressing sometimes in Ligue 2 after their relegation towards the end of the 1950s but generally not. Lille were, and Lille was, the first club to become half-owned by the city; something that is fairly common in France nowadays. I can’t speak too strongly of the pros and cons, but Lille certainly seem to get through pretty smoothly – their new stadium is half-and-half, too which meant its building was pretty efficient too; contrast that with the problem local rivals Lens have had.

It took the arrival of Bernard Lacombe to turn Lille around in the 1990s as first they established themselves in the top flight, then began to strike out – France was never known for its financial grandeur, and so the Dogues were able to grow and grow behind first Lyon, then PSG and are now perhaps the fourth biggest club in France (behind Marseille, Lyon and PSG).

The real push to that level came under Garcia and, while a Ligue 1 championship looks a long way away after PSG have kicked into gear, Lille have a fair opportunity to cement their spot in second, battling with Monaco, Marseille and Lyon for that honour (and perhaps St Etienne, to be fair).

GAME OF THEIR LIVES

Needing just a point to claim the 2011 title (having only a week before beaten PSG in the Coupe de France final) Lille went to PSG in high spirits. That paid off, as the northerners went 0-1 up through Ludovic Obraniak after just five minutes, sending the visiting fans into raptures.

That Guillaume Hoarau equalised, and then saw himself sent off wasn't such a problem as the draw would be enough to clinch the title for the first time since 1954. It was no surprise to see Moussa Sow score his 22nd goal of the season early in the second half to give Lille the advantage again and, though fingernails were bitten during the last 15 minutes after Mathieu Bodmer brought the Parisians back level again, in the end, they were powerless to prevent Lille going on to claim the title with a game to spare as Marseille had already drawn with Valenciennes, coincidentally, also 2-2.

Perhaps that title was the final hurrah for Lille, but the team containing the likes of Landreau, Debuchy, Rami, Mavuba, Cabaye, Obraniak, Hazard, Sow and Gervinho were a pleasure to watch and this match clinched a thrilling title triumph.

THE PRESENT

Lille remain a big hitter, with a team based around defensive solidity and particularly the excellence of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who you may remember featuring for Nigeria during the World Cup. Leading the line, and scorer this weekend, was Divock Origi, bought by Liverpool in the summer, and loaned back to Nord-Pas-De-Calais. Indeed, Lille rose to the top of Ligue 1 by defeating Nantes over the weekend.

Their League - France

Marseille are very much up and running under Marcelo Bielsa, following up their 4-0 win with a comfortable 1-3 win at Evian, never in doubt after Gignac scored with just a minute on the clock. Elsewhere, PSG drew their third consecutive away game after being pegged back at Rennes, while Monaco lost at Lyon and are looking very very weak. Bordeaux lost at Guingamp to lose top spot, while St Etienne beat Caen, taking them up to fourth. Until PSG can get their away form in order, they won't be able to break clear.

Elsewhere in France, Luzenac were denied entry to Ligue 2 because they were unable to secure assurances about their ground; their promotion from the third tier being denied and the club going on to field only a reserve team, and that in the seventh tier.

MTP Why are PSG so bad away from home?

Germany – Business as Usual

Bayern caught up with Bayer Leverkusen at the top of the table, a 2-0 win over Stuttgart lifting them to the seven points they share with Bayer and Hannover, who beat Hamburg by the same score on Sunday afternoon. Behind them, Dortmund enjoyed a 3-1 win (Immobile got an assist, but is still yet to score) to pull onto six points, ahead of Paderborn (drew 0-0), Moenchengladbach, Mainz, Hoffenheim and Cologne. Hamburg sit bottom on 1 point; level with a few, but have failed to score so far and looked unlikely to do so against Hannover.

MTP; When will Hamburg score?

Italy – Milan Goes Goal Crazy

Inter enjoyed their second 7-0 win against Sassuolo in two seasons, Mauro Icardi bagging a hat-trick, while AC Milan were involved in the game of the weekend, storming to a 1-3 lead at Parma (who went huge swathes of last season unbeaten) only to find themselves pegged back, first to 2-3, then to 3-4. Eventually, the Rossoneri came out 4-5 winners, Jeremy Menez scoring his second and third goals for the side. He was playing false nine, so Kudos to James Richardson for his Phantom Menez joke. Elsewhere despite the excitement in Milan, Roma and Juventus both won without conceding and Napoli lost at home to Chievo Verona. We won't mention Torino's lunchtime game with Sampdoria.

MTP; Will Rafa Benitez be fearing for his job?


Spain - Atletico Stun Real (Again)

That's right. Another Madrid derby, another Atletico win - that's their third out of four at the Bernabeu, and with a new team as well; Diego Simeone continues to do himself good. Barcelona overcame a seemingly tricky game against Athletic Club, while Depor - last week's TOTW - got their first win of the season at fellow Promotees Eibar. Valencia look to be having one of their 'good' seasons, they demolished Espanyol 3-1. Eibar, whose whole population is 27,000, are only behind Real Madrid, whose stadium holds three times as many people, on goal difference.

MTP; Was selling Di Maria and Xavi Alonso the worst piece of business Real did all window?


Austria - A Challenger Emerges

I told you to expect a few surprises, and my fondness for the Austrian league is not really news to long-term subsribers to these pages. Interesting development this week, though, as Red Bull Salzburg who have been imperious in this competition in recent seasons continued their chequered start to the season by losing at Pellets WAC 1-0. That can happen, but now with a 6-0-2 record, RBS sit three points behind Pellets WAC, who have started the season 7-0-1 which is 'like a proverbial train'. No idea whether that can last yet, but there's only 10 teams in Austria, so come next week, they'll all have played each other once; promises to be a title fight, at least.

MTP; Alan has scored just thrice all season; can he find his feet and score against the Celts?

Greece - The Wandering Hero Returns

Kostas Mitroglou made his second debut for Olimpiacos this weekend, coming on as a substitute for Dimitrios Diamantakos a minute after his side went 3-0 up. Obviously, the Greek champions' main focus is the Champions League and trying to get out of their group, but they're beginning to show their teeth again in Super League. They still sit two points behind Veria, who beat Kerkyra 2-1 and level with Kalloni, Atromitos and PAOK, who beat Niki Volou 3-0. Perhaps the shock of the round was Panathinaikos losing at Kalloni, the Lesbian side just about keeping pace with the leaders as a result.

MTP; Having failed at Fulham, with Mitroglou get glory in Greece?

[Marco4]

5. Goal Mitroglou! Champions League strike.

[Marco4]

1. Not just yet. Haha!

[Marco4]

4. Yes! Alan!