Lyon hold off challenge of six other teams to win the title

Lyon defended the title ahead of SIX other teams in a frantic new dawn for Ligue 1 in 2002/03.

No side had been successful in defending the title for more than a decade, but this run was broken by Lyon who won their second-ever Ligue 1 title, beating off challenges from no less than six clubs.

Their total of 68 points may not have been enough to claim a spot in the Champions League these days, but it was enough in the first-ever ‘Ligue 1’ season. The LFP had chosen to implement a new makeover for the old Division 1, with Monaco (67), Marseille (65) Bordeaux (64), Saint-Etienne (64) and Auxerre (64) all harbouring genuine title hopes until the end.

CHANGES

Liverpool were the big shoppers in France in the summer of 2002, on the back of a positive World Cup for Senegal. The English side saw fit to prise Salif Diao and El Hadji Diouf to Anfield, while also picking up no-nonsense midfielder Bruno Cheyrou.

Andre Luiz was the big signing, quitting Corinthians for PSG in an 11 million euro deal, while big forward Jean Claude Darcheville moved to Bordeaux in the close season.

SEASON SUMMARY

2002-03 proved to be a very topsy-turvy season for all concerned. First, no less than 10 teams occupied the top spot throughout the campaign, a then-record for the French top tier. No side, not even the future champions Lyon had occupied the lead for more than a month at a time, and even then – it was unheralded Nice who managed that feat. In fact, the southern club had reached top spot on no less than 4 occasions, but a disastrous second half of the campaign saw them finish only in 10th spot.

By the halfway point, Les Aiglons were 2nd, a point behind Marseille but one clear of Monaco, Lyon and Auxerre.

No side could muster a strong challenge – and with 7 teams in the mix – including a Guingamp side inspired by Didier Drogba and Florent Malouda – it seemed that each side had been intent on taking points off every other time, with the league unable to generate a dominant contender.

In the end,…

Source link : https://www.footballcritic.com/season-reviews/lyon-hold-off-challenge-of-six-other-teams-to-win-the-title-ligue-1-in-2002-03/783

Author : [email protected] (Abel Meszaros)

Publish date : 2024-07-19 13:00:00

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