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FOOTBALL: Champions League: Lyon's move to the side of the feat

 

Inefficient and far from their best, the Lyon players were beaten 1-0 by Wolfsburg Thursday in the final of the Champions League and then failed a historic treble after their coronations of 2011 and 2012.

The Lyonnaise, which had not lost a game since European quarter-final in 2010 against the Italian Torres Calcio have badly chosen their day to find the taste, very rare for them to die made.

But they were not really a good day in London on Thursday and were too inefficient to meet this triple that would have come in the history of the sport. They have been punished by Germans who are imposed with a penalty conceded on a hand of George and transformed into force by Müller (74).

Before the meeting, the Germans had willingly left the Lyonnaise label favorites, their coach Ralf Kellermann repeating that Lyon was "the best team in Europe and the world. "

This is probably not the flattery has softened the Lyonnaise, safer pressure event in a stadium Stamford Bridge though not very full, but their performance was , really labored throughout the game. 

While Wolfsburg, who managed to turn a superb triple championship-German Cup-Champions League, realized he had a card to play, Lyon lost thus entered e in dubious choice and unusual technical waste. Predictable punishment

Calm Fox defense and the quality of decision Schelin ball in attack were then valuable to restore some order and shortly before the half-hour mark, OL accelerator lérait frankly.

Playing suddenly 15m above, not losing a dogfight, players Patrice Lair finally resembled the "unbeatable" feared by the Germans and multiplied occasions (Rapinoe 20, Henry 27, Necib 29 Abily 30). 

In the second period, in a downpour, the Lyonnaise confirmed their ascendancy under the leadership of Henry and with the correct input of the Swiss Dickenmann, but still ineffective.

The German goal, which also rewarded a strong and courageous collective performance, then seemed like a terribly predictable punishment and sealed the failure of a team that has not failed once this season, at the worst time.

This setback is a real setback for the club's president Jean-Michel Aulas, too strong to be seriously worried championship in France and for which Europe is the only objective valid in view of its effective solid gold. 

Failing tripled the Lyonnaise already champions of France, can still aim doubled with the final of the Coupe de France on June 8 But even if it be against Saint-Etienne, it will probably not have the same flavor.

AFP