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Olympique Lyonnais Anchor Jeremy Toulalan Looking Forward To Saint-Etienne Clash

Toulalan is up for the derby, which is a match afforded special significance in central France...

Oct 31, 2009 2:02:18 PM

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Jeremy Toulalan (Lyon)

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Jérémy Toulalan

Saturday evening will see two of Ligue 1’s most bitter rivals clash when Saint-Etienne host near neighbours Olympique Lyonnais, and it is a scrap that Jeremy Toulalan is relishing.

“This is the derby and is more than a league match,” the tenacious midfielder explained to Eurosport. “Even in difficult times we’ve always been present [in the derby].”

Lyon go into the match on the back of defeats against Sochaux and Nice, though these losses were sandwiched by a win over Liverpool in the Champions League. Les Gones still hold Ligue 1 as their top priority, according to Toulalan, so there will be nothing held back on Saturday night.

“It’s been 15 years and OL have not lost a derby,” he said. “It should not happen here. This period is not easy but it is not disturbing.

“This week is very important. In Ligue 1, we have two important games. It will not be easy against Liverpool in the Champions League. A draw will qualify us but defeat is almost prohibited.”

Reflecting on last weekend’s surprising 4-1 defeat against Nice, Toulalan explained, “The priority is the championship and it is always annoying to lose against the supposedly weaker teams. We have a lot of internationals but now our players are less experienced or younger.”

Lyon have won three of the last five derby matches at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, including last season’s, which was pinched by Karim Benzema. Benzema had also struck a stoppage time leveller the previous year after Sainte had gone ahead through Bafetimbi Gomis, who now plays for Lyon and is sure to receive a warm welcome.

Robin Bairner, Goal.com

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