Another Goal Would’ve Had Barcelona Worried – Lyon Midfielder Mathieu Bodmer

Olympique Lyonnais’ versatile midfielder has stated that, if his side could have somehow added an additional goal when they drew the game back to 4-2, they might just have been able to cause a massive upset.

Mar 12, 2009 12:31:41 PM

More On :  FC Barcelona, Olympique Lyonnais, Mathieu Bodmer, FC Barcelona vs Olympique Lyonnais
Mathieu Bodmer (Olympique Lyonnais)

A breathtaking 18-minute first half burst from Barcelona drew the Spanish side out to a 4-0 lead against Olympique Lyonnais in their Champions League fixture on Wednesday evening. But les Gones flickered briefly as Barcelona switched off, fighting back with goals either side of half-time from Jean Makoun and Juninho.
Don't Miss

Mathieu Bodmer, who came on as a substitute at the interval, has claimed that if OL could have found another goal at that moment, Barcelona, who were so rampant in the first half, would have become anxious.

“It was very complicated,” the former Lille man stated to L'Equipe, referring to the first half performance of the respective sides. “When they decided to accelerate, they scored two goals in three minutes. Barcelona had most of the space and they played easily. To be 4-1 at half-time complicated matters.

“We tried to come back, and we had some opportunities, but we did not get the score to 4-3, which would have raised some doubts. At 4-2 we could still retain some hope.”

Bodmer, who has only played a handful of minutes since an injury sustained in the autumn, was only one of a handful of Lyon players struggling for full match fitness. Karim Benzema and Jean-Alain Boumsong were both significant pre-match doubts while Francois Clerc, who was tortured at right-back, was only playing his third game all season due to a serious knee injury. The 26-year-old hinted that this was a problem for his team.

“It’s hard to run after the ball for 90 minutes,” he bemoaned before praising Barca. “Lyon would have had to play an exceptional game but we were not at our top. Barcelona have been one of the best teams since the beginning of the season. They are a phenomenon and they will be difficult to stop.”

Claude Puel, the general manager of Lyon, will have to refocus his side for a Ligue 1 match against Auxerre this weekend. OL’s lead at the summit of the Le Championnat has been whittled down to only a solitary point but they can now concentrate their efforts on the competition.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com
Follow Goal.com on Twitter
Follow Goal.com on Facebook
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
Comments
8 Comments
 
Advertisement
play pause open close
Inside Goal.Com
  1. Capello remains one of the greats of the game Capello remains one of the greats of the game

    After tasting success wherever he had gone previously, the coach will look upon his time at Wembley as an incomplete job rather than a complete failure

  2. Can Suarez repeat Cantona's grand comeback? Can Suarez repeat Cantona's grand comeback?

    The divisive Uruguayan can look to history when he starts against United on Saturday for the first time since receiving an eight-match ban for racially abusing Patrice Evra

  3. Key battles: Manchester United v Liverpool Key battles: Manchester United v Liverpool

    The former Reds defender believes that the Uruguayan must put controversy to the back of his mind when his team face the champions

  4. The importance of Champions League qualification The importance of Champions League qualification

    The Ruhr side's remarkable run in Europe's elite tournament saw their revenue unexpectedly soar last season, but some teams are structured to depend on such results to survive

  5. Cartoon: Capello's managerial merry-go-round Cartoon: Capello's managerial merry-go-round

    Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day ...

 
Advertisement
Advertisement