Ligue 1, Week 25: Lyon And PSG Put On A Show In 4-4 Thriller

Well, that was a strange one. Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain battled - in virtually every sense of the word - to a 4-4 draw at the Stade de Gerland, and this was a match that was every bit as interesting as the scoreline suggests. Both teams were heavy on the attack and not-so-heavy on playing defence, and that led to an absolutely enthralling spectacle. With Montpellier triumphant over Bordeaux their game, Carlo Ancelotti’s PSG needed a win to retain their status as Ligue Un leaders, but it was the hosts, desperate to overhaul Lille and move third, who started out with all guns blazing.

Mohamed Sissoko won a free kick on the right, and the entire Lyon defence was expecting Jeremy Menez to swing in a cross. Instead, he pulled the ball back across the top of the area, where it was met with a precision effort from Guillaume Hoarau. Lloris had no chance, the shot fizzing straight into the bottom corner and Hoarau, who had scored a last minute goal against Montpellier to salvage a draw the weekend prior, was the hero again.

That score wouldn’t stand long either, however - in the last minute of first half stoppage time Maxime Gonalons cut down Nene in the box for reasons unknown, and the forward sent Lloris the wrong way with his penalty. It’s 3-2 to Lyon at the break, and you’d have to imagine that there are more goals in this.

Saturday, 2/25; 19:00 CET/1:00 PM ET

HOW ARE THESE TEAMS NOT 20 POINTS BEHIND EVERYONE ELSE IT IS AWFUL.