2007–08 Olympique Lyonnais season

Lyon

2007–08 season
Owner	OL Groupe
Chairman	Jean-Michel Aulas
Manager	Alain Perrin
Stadium	Stade de Gerland
Ligue 1	1st
Trophée des Champions	Winners
Coupe de la Ligue	Quarter-finals
Coupe de France	Winners
Champions League	Round of 16
Top goalscorer	League: Karim Benzema (20) All: Karim Benzema (31)
Highest home attendance	40,381 vs Bordeaux (9 March 2008)
Lowest home attendance	20,012 vs Sochaux (18 March 2008)
Home colours Away colours Third colours
← 2006–07 2008–09 →

The 2007–08 season was Olympique Lyonnais's 49th season in Ligue 1 and their 19th consecutive season in the top division of French football. They were the defending champions having won the title the past six consecutive seasons.

Current squad

As of 8 March 2008. Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  FRA Grégory Coupet (vice-captain) 2 DF  FRA François Clerc 3 DF  BRA Cris (vice-captain) 4 DF  SUI Patrick Müller 5 MF  FRA Mathieu Bodmer 6 MF  SWE Kim Källström 8 MF  BRA Juninho (captain) 9 FW  BRA Fred 10 FW  FRA Karim Benzema 11 DF  ITA Fabio Grosso 14 MF  FRA Sidney Govou 18 MF  FRA Hatem Ben Arfa 19 FW  ARG César Delgado

No. Pos. Nation Player 20 DF  FRA Anthony Réveillère 21 MF  ESP Marc Crosas (on loan from Barcelona) 22 DF  BRA Anderson 23 FW  CIV Kader Keïta 24 MF  FRA Romain Beynié 25 GK  FRA Joan Hartock 27 FW  FRA Anthony Mounier 28 MF  FRA Jérémy Toulalan 29 DF  FRA Sébastien Squillaci 30 GK  FRA Rémy Vercoutre 32 DF  FRA Jean-Alain Boumsong 33 DF  FRA Mickael Charvet 35 GK  FRA Frédéric Roux

Transfers

In

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 5 MF  FRA Mathieu Bodmer (€6.5M from Lille[1]) 11 DF  ITA Fabio Grosso (€7M from Internazionale[2][3]) 21 DF  ALG Nadir Belhadj (loan return from Sedan) 22 DF  BRA Anderson (€4M from Benfica) 23 FW  CIV Kader Keïta (€18M from Lille[1])

No. Pos. Nation Player 35 GK  FRA Frédéric Roux (free agent from Ajaccio) 19 FW  ARG César Delgado (€10M from Cruz Azul)[4] 21 MF  ESP Marc Crosas (on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season) 32 DF  FRA Jean-Alain Boumsong (€3M from Juventus) -- MF  BRA Ederson (€15M from Nice, official in June 2008)

Out

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 5 DF  BRA Caçapa (Free transfer to Newcastle United) 10 MF  FRA Florent Malouda (€21M to Chelsea[5]) 15 MF  FRA Alou Diarra (€7.75M to Bordeaux[6]) 20 DF  FRA Eric Abidal (€15M to Barcelona[7]) 21 MF  POR Tiago (€13M to Juventus[8]) 23 DF  FRA Jérémy Berthod (€2M to Monaco[9])

No. Pos. Nation Player 38 FW  FRA Gregory Bettiol (€0.33M to Troyes) 39 DF  FRA Mourad Benhamida (Free transfer to Montpellier) -- GK  FRA Rémy Riou (€0.8M to Auxerre) 22 FW  FRA Sylvain Wiltord (€1.5M to Rennes) 21 DF  ALG Nadir Belhadj (€3.6M to Lens)

Players out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 26 MF  BRA Fábio Santos (6 month loan to São Paulo) 7 FW  CZE Milan Baroš (6 month loan to Portsmouth) 12 FW  FRA Loïc Rémy (on loan to Lens until the end of the season)[10] 15 DF  FRA Sandy Paillot (on loan to Grenoble until the end of the season)[10]

Club

Management

Position	Staff
Manager	Alain Perrin
Assistant manager	Rémi Garde
Assistant manager	Christophe Galtier
Assistant manager	Bruno Genesio
Club doctor	Jean-Jacques Amprino
Goalkeeping coach	Joël Bats
Special Advisor	Bernard Lacombe

Last updated: 30 May 2007
Source: Olympique Lyonnais

Kit

Supplier: Umbro
Sponsor(s): Novotel (home), Ticket Restaurant (away), Renault Trucks (alternate)

Home

Away

Third/Euro Kit

Alternate Away

Source: OL Boutique

Other information

Chairman	Jean-Michel Aulas
Ground (capacity and dimensions)	Stade Gerland (41,044 / 112x65 yards)

Source: Stade Gerland Profile

Competitions

Ligue 1

After a tough Ligue 1 season marred by injuries to key players, Lyon became champions for the seventh consecutive season holding off Bordeaux. They claimed the title after defeating Auxerre on the final day of the season.

League table

Results summary

Results by round

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F – A	Scorers	Attendance	League position
5 August 2007	Auxerre	H	2 – 0[permanent dead link]	Baroš 33', Benzema 70'	35,537	3rd
11 August 2007	Toulouse	A	0 – 1[permanent dead link]		24,980	7th
18 August 2007	Lorient	A	1 – 2[permanent dead link]	Benzema 32'	14,612	8th
26 August 2007	Saint-Étienne	H	1 – 0[permanent dead link]	Benzema 54'	38,438	7th
29 August 2007	Sochaux	A	2 – 1	Benzema 20', Bodmer 57'	15,744	4th
1 September 2007	Le Mans	H	3 – 2[permanent dead link]	Govou 71', Benzema 76', Baroš 78'	35,042	2nd
15 September 2007	Metz	A	5 – 1[permanent dead link]	Benzema 4', 36', 38', Ben Arfa 58', Juninho 86'	21,988	1st
23 September 2007	Lille	H	1 – 1	Govou 58'	32,658	2nd
29 September 2007	Lens	H	3 – 0[permanent dead link]	Santos 42', Källström 81', Benzema 90'	38,420	4th
7 October 2007	Bordeaux	A	3 – 1[permanent dead link]	Anderson 5', Benzema 23', Källström 59'	31,919	2nd
20 October 2007	Monaco	H	3 – 1[permanent dead link]	Juninho 12' (pen.), Réveillère 18', Benzema 50'	36,254	1st
28 October 2007	Paris Saint-Germain	A	3 – 2[permanent dead link]	Ben Arfa 40', 43', Govou 84'	39,787	1st
3 November 2007	Valenciennes	H	2 – 0[permanent dead link]	Juninho 40', Govou 87'	38,631	1st
11 November 2007	Marseille	H	1 – 2[permanent dead link]	Juninho 7'	38,811	1st
24 November 2007	Rennes	A	2 – 0[permanent dead link]	Juninho 5' (pen.), Ben Arfa 18'	28,596	1st
2 December 2007	Strasbourg	H	5 – 0[permanent dead link]	Källström 13', 80' (pen.), Juninho 19', Benzema 64', Clerc 78'	34,595	1st
8 December 2007	Caen	A	0 – 1[permanent dead link]		20,664	1st
15 December 2007	Nice	H	0 – 0[permanent dead link]		37,280	1st
22 December 2007	Nancy	A	1 – 1[permanent dead link]	Baroš 80'	19,898	1st
12 January 2008	Toulouse	H	3 – 2[permanent dead link]	Ben Arfa 17', Juninho 56', Benzema 66'	36,587	1st
20 January 2008	Lens	A	0 – 3[permanent dead link]		32,734	1st
23 January 2008	Lorient	H	2 – 0[permanent dead link]	Ben Arfa 29', Benzema 74'	37,780	1st
27 January 2008	Saint-Étienne	A	1 – 1[permanent dead link]	Benzema 90'	31,537	1st
9 February 2008	Sochaux	H	4 – 1[permanent dead link]	Bodmer 2', 76', Govou 90', Benzema 90'	35,904	1st
16 February 2008	Le Mans	A	0 – 1[permanent dead link]		14,051	1st
23 February 2008	Metz	H	2 – 0[permanent dead link]	Fred 10', 69'	37,281	1st
1 March 2008	Lille	A	1 – 0[permanent dead link]	Fred 32'	77,840	1st
9 March 2008	Bordeaux	H	4 – 2[permanent dead link]	Bodmer 11', 24', Benzema 50', Keïta 90+3'	40,381	1st
15 March 2008	Monaco	A	3 – 0[permanent dead link]	Keïta 20', 38', Fred 35'	12,321	1st
23 March 2008	Paris Saint-Germain	H	4 – 2[permanent dead link]	Fred 8', 36', Govou 65', Juninho 72'	37,895	1st
30 March 2008	Valenciennes	A	2 – 1[permanent dead link]	Keïta 8', Govou 66'	15,313	1st
6 April 2008	Marseille	A	1 – 3[permanent dead link]	Cana 45' (o.g.)	56,271	1st
13 April 2008	Rennes	H	1 – 1[permanent dead link]	Cris 15'	39,900	1st
19 April 2008	Strasbourg	A	2 – 1	Bodmer 62', Grosso 68'	26,006	1st
26 April 2008	Caen	H	2 – 2[permanent dead link]	Benzema 33', 60'	39,068	1st
3 May 2008	Nice	A	0 – 0[permanent dead link]		14,206	1st
10 May 2008	Nancy	H	1 – 0[permanent dead link]	Macaluso 63' (o.g.)	38,190	1st
17 May 2008	AJ Auxerre	A	3 – 1[permanent dead link]	Benzema 1', Fred 10', Källström 53'	19,799	1st

UEFA Champions League

Lyon made their seventh-straight appearance in the UEFA Champions League. They were pitted in the so-called "group of death", which featured German champions VfB Stuttgart, Spanish giants Barcelona and Scottish giants Rangers. After two disappointing 0–3 losses to Barcelona at the Camp Nou and Rangers at home, Lyon rebounded picking up two important wins in their home-away series against Stuttgart. Following their 2–2 draw at home against Barcelona, Lyon faced a tough challenge as they needed to defeat Rangers at Ibrox in order to advance to the knockout stages. As Rangers only needed a draw, odds were against Lyon. However, after an early goal by Sidney Govou, Lyon ended Rangers hope with two late goals from Karim Benzema sending Lyon to the knockout stages for the fifth consecutive season.

Group E

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification
1	Barcelona	6	4	2	0	12	3	+9	14	Advance to knockout stage
2	Lyon	6	3	1	2	11	10	+1	10
3	Rangers	6	2	1	3	7	9	−2	7	Transfer to UEFA Cup
4	Stuttgart	6	1	0	5	7	15	−8	3

Results by round

Date	Opponents	H / A	Result F – A	Scorers	Attendance	Group position
19 September 2007	Barcelona	A	0 – 3		78,689	4th
2 October 2007	Rangers	H	0 – 3		38,076	4th
23 October 2007	VfB Stuttgart	A	2 – 0	Santos 55', Benzema 79'	51,000	3rd
7 November 2007	VfB Stuttgart	H	4 – 2	Ben Arfa 5', 37', Källström 15', Juninho 90'	38,215	3rd
27 November 2007	Barcelona	H	2 – 2	Juninho 7', 80' (pen.)	38,113	3rd
12 December 2007	Rangers	A	3 – 0	Govou 16', Benzema 85', 88'	50,260	2nd

First knockout round

Lyon were paired against English champions Manchester United in the Round of 16. After a 1–1 draw at home, Lyon failed to respond at Old Trafford, losing 0–1 on a Cristiano Ronaldo goal just before half-time.

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F – A	Scorers	Attendance
20 February 2008	First knockout round First leg	Manchester United	H	1 – 1	Benzema 54'	39,230
4 March 2008	First knockout round Second leg	Manchester United	A	0 – 1		75,521

Coupe de la Ligue

Lyon entered this year's Coupe de la Ligue as the defending runners-up after losing to Bordeaux in the 2007 final. Having made it to the Champions League, Lyon were given their annual bye into the first knockout round, where they defeated Caen 3–1. With that win, they were pitted against Le Mans in the quarter-finals. After an early goal by Le Mans midfielder Daisuke Matsui, Lyon could not break through their sturdy defence as they bowed out of the League Cup for the seventh-straight season, their last cup triumph being in 2001.

Results by round

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F – A	Scorers	Attendance
31 October 2007	First Knockout Round	Caen	A	3 – 1[permanent dead link]	Keïta 14', Bodmer 76', Benzema 89'	16,336
16 January 2008	Quarter-Finals	Le Mans	A	0 – 1		7,934

Coupe de France

Lyon got their Coupe de France season off to a strong start defeating Championnat National side Créteil 4–0, with Karim Benzema picking up a hat-trick. This match was notable as it marked the return of Lyon goalkeeper Grégory Coupet who had been out for four months with a torn medial ligament.^[11] Following their Round of 32 success, they were pitted against the surprising, yet upset-minded CFA side Croix de Savoie. After a hard-fought first half, it took an 80th-minute strike from Fred to pull Lyon through to the next round where they faced the defending champions Sochaux. Following an unimpressive first half from both clubs, Benzema opened the scoring for Lyon in the 56th minute. After holding the score at 1–0, Lyon failed to keep a clean sheet as Kandia Traoré equalised for Sochaux near the beginning of injury time. With extra time looming, Benzema again scored for Lyon to give them the victory and the right to move to the quarter-finals, where they faced relegation-bound Metz.

Metz, looking to create something special out of a disappointing league season, played very bravely as they tried to pull off a historic upset. Benzema, however, again scored for Lyon (his 28th of the season and sixth in the Coupe de France) to give them a 1–0 lead in the 39th minute. That would be the eventual scoreline as Lyon advanced to the semifinals where they faced Ligue 2 side Sedan. In one of the more entertaining matches of the cup, with both teams displaying their attacking prowess and both goalkeepers stepping up in times of need, it took one of Juninho's vintage free kicks to finally knock out the tough Ligue 2 side and thus book Lyon's place in the final at the Stade de France, where they faced rivals Paris Saint-Germain. The final was heavily contested and eventually headed into extra time. Lyon finally broke through with a goal from Sidney Govou. Lyon would hold on to that scoreline as they prevailed to capture their fourth Coupe de France title in their history and the first in the Jean-Michel Aulas era. For more information on the final, click below.

Coupe de France Final 2008

Results by round

Date	Round	Opponents	H / A	Result F – A	Scorers	Attendance
6 January 2008	Round of 32	Créteil	A	4 – 0[permanent dead link]	Benzema 15', 38', 80' (pen.), Juninho 44'	10,640
3 February 2008	Round of 16	Croix de Savoie	A	1 – 0[permanent dead link]	Fred 80'	7,500
18 March 2008	First Knockout Round	Sochaux	H	2 – 1[permanent dead link]	Benzema 56', 90+1'	20,012
15 April 2008	Quarterfinals	FC Metz	H	1 – 0[permanent dead link]	Benzema 39'	27,015
7 May 2008	Semi-finals	CS Sedan	H	1 – 0	Juninho 88'	33,057
24 May 2008	Final	PSG	N	1 – 0	Govou 102'	79,204

Statistics

Last updated on 24 May 2008.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Ligue 1		Champions League		Coupe de la Ligue		Coupe de France
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	FRA	Grégory Coupet	28	0	19	0	2	0	1	0	6	0
2	DF	FRA	François Clerc	40	1	21+7	1	4+3	0	0	0	5	0
3	DF	BRA	Cris	17	1	13	1	1	0	0	0	3	0
4	DF	SUI	Patrick Müller	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
5	MF	FRA	Mathieu Bodmer	51	7	30+8	6	2+3	0	2	1	6	0
6	MF	SWE	Kim Källström	54	6	29+9	5	7+1	1	2	0	6	0
8	MF	BRA	Juninho	47	13	30+3	8	8	3	2	0	4	2
9	FW	BRA	Fred	31	8	14+8	7	1+2	0	2	0	4	1
10	FW	FRA	Karim Benzema	52	31	33+4	20	7	4	2	1	6	6
11	DF	ITA	Fabio Grosso	44	1	31	1	7	0	1	0	5	0
14	FW	FRA	Sidney Govou	45	9	26+6	7	8	1	1	0	4	1
18	MF	FRA	Hatem Ben Arfa	43	8	18+13	6	5+3	2	1	0	3	0
19	FW	ARG	César Delgado	10	0	2+6	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
20	DF	FRA	Anthony Réveillère	40	1	22+6	1	6+1	0	2	0	3	0
21	MF	ESP	Marc Crosas	12	0	4+5	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
22	DF	BRA	Anderson	19	1	11+1	1	5	0	1	0	1	0
23	FW	CIV	Kader Keïta	41	5	19+11	4	0+6	0	1	1	4	0
24	MF	FRA	Romain Beynié	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
25	GK	FRA	Joan Hartock	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
27	FW	FRA	Anthony Mounier	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	MF	FRA	Jérémy Toulalan	41	0	30+1	0	5	0	1	0	4	0
29	DF	FRA	Sébastien Squillaci	50	0	35+1	0	8	0	2	0	4	0
30	GK	FRA	Rémy Vercoutre	26	0	19	0	6	0	1	0	0	0
32	DF	FRA	Jean-Alain Boumsong	13	0	8	0	1	0	0	0	4	0
33	DF	FRA	Mickael Charvet	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
35	GK	FRA	Frédéric Roux	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0

References