Montreal Impact – Olympique Lyonnais
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 – 7:30pm (ET)
Stade Saputo, Montreal
Broadcast: TVA Sports
Also available on: illico web, illico mobile
MONTREAL, Quebec – The Montreal Impact will face Olympique Lyonnais in an international matchup on Tuesday at 7:30pm (ET), at Stade Saputo.
Tickets for the game are $25 or less and are available through the Admission Network or the Impact ticket offices. Hot dogs will be available for only $1 from 6 to 7:30pm.
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This matchup will serve as the final preparation game for OL’s upcoming Champion’s Trophy match versus Montpelier, to be played in New York, at Red Bulls Arena, on July 28. It is also the third of four preseason games for last season’s Champion’s Trophy winners to lay the groundwork for its first match of the 2012-2013 season in France’s top flight, Ligue 1, beginning August 11 versus Stade Rennais. In its first two preseason games so far, played against two La Liga clubs, OL lost 2-1 to Athletico Bilbao, and tied Real Sociedad 1-1.
Notes and Quotes
“They are a very, very good team, and you will find out right away that if you are not disciplined, they will make you pay,” said Impact head coach Jesse Marsch. “The timing of the game is good for us as we can get minutes for some players that have been injured like Matteo (Ferrari) and Nelson (Rivas), as well as Alessandro (Nesta).”
“They are guys you see play in Champions League and UEFA Cup games and are on TV all the time,” said Impact defender Shavar Thomas. “They play in one of the highest leagues in France and in Europe, and it is an honour to play against such a prestigious club.”
The Impact is coming off of a 3-0 loss to the Houston Dynamo on Saturday in its last match. Quebec-born defender and Impact Academy graduate Karl W. Ouimette made his MLS debut for the Impact, coming on in the 26th minute for an injured Zarek Valentin. However, the team was victorious in its last home game versus the New England Revolution on Saturday, July 18, by a 2-1 score. Midfielder Patrice Bernier (6G, 5A) and forward Sanna Nyassi (3G, 2A) scored in the win.
Former AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta will make his debut for the Montreal Impact and will be in the starting lineup. Nesta, who joined the Impact a little over two weeks ago, has over 10 years of experience with the Italian National Team and a World Cup and 16 season in Italy’s first division, Serie A, with Parma and AC Milan.
“I look forward to making my debut tomorrow,” said Nesta. “I hope to play at least 45 minutes and do well. I know Yoann Gourcuff from his time in Milan, and I’m looking forward to playing against him. He’s a good guy and a great player.”
The Impact’s record in international friendlies at Stade Saputo while playing in North America’s second division is 2-1-2, including a 1-1 draw with Fiorentina of Italy’s Serie A on May 23, 2010. Also, the Impact hosted Nesta and AC Milan at Olympic Stadium in a 4-1 loss in front of over 47,000 fans on June 2, 2010. Nesta started and played the first half for the Rossoneri in that game.
“The MLS has improved over the years and it's getting closer to the European style,” said OL head coach Remi Garde. “I was a teammate of Patrice Ferri, who played for the Impact, and he always had great things to say about the club.”
“MLS is a league that is growing, and the style is different. Here in Montreal, you have some famous players that have recently signed like Nesta and Di Vaio,” said OL midfielder Yoann Gourcuff. “We are looking forward to the game. My father played here as well and he said very good things about the city and the fans.”
About OL
A travelling roster of 24 players was announced by head coach Rémi Garde, including all of OL’s regular players. Hugo Lloris, starting goalkeeper and captain of the French National Team, French midfielder Yoann Gourcuff, as well as Argentine forward Lisandro López, who scored 25 goals last season, including 16 seasons in the league, are currently in Montreal. So has Brazilian defender Cris, who serves as the team’s captain, Brazilian midfielder Michel Bastos and French forwards Jimmy Briand and Bafétimbi Gomis, who finished last season with 14 goals, will all be available for the matchup.
Injury report
OUT : D Jeb Brovsky – Right hamstring, Zarek Valentin – Left ankle sprain; F Bernardo Corradi – Left knee ACL tear
PROBABLE : D Matteo Ferrari –Right quad strain, D Nelson Rivas – Abdomen
Upcoming match
The Impact takes on Thierry Henry and the Red Bulls on Saturday at Stade Saputo, at 7:30pm. Group packages, as well as 3 or 6 game partial plans are available for the 2012 season by calling 514-328-3668.
