Lyon desperate to get back to Champions League
Soccer Betting Lines
05/07/2010 - Valenciennes, France (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - After reaching the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time in club history, Lyon is eager to return to Europe's premier club competition, but they must first get back into the top three.
Lyon enters the weekend trailing both Lille and Auxerre by two points, but Claude Puel's side has a game in hand and they can ensure themselves of a top- three finish with wins in their last three matches.
They are only in this position because of a vital 2-1 win over Auxerre on Wednesday that saw the club come back from a goal down, and Puel believes that the mental aspect of the game is just as crucial during the final games as the physical.
"What makes the difference now is mental strength and my players are doing a great job even if they're tired," Puel told reporters following Wednesday's contest.
Lyon was no doubt disappointed with their elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich, but they responded well with wins over Montpellier and Auxerre, putting them in position to make a strong final push.
"When you're near the end of the season, you have to be strong in mind because you're not on top condition. You have to show your rivals you want it more than them. We know we'll have to struggle," goalkeeper Hugo Lloris told reporters.
"Munich is out of our mind, we've put that behind us and what we want is to play the Champions League once again. We just need to win our last three games."
The first of those three comes Saturday at mid-table Valenciennes, while a midweek match against Monaco follows before ending the season with already relegated Le Mans.
Lille faces newly-crowned champions Marseille, while Auxerre hosts bottom-half side Lens.
Neither Lille nor Auxerre can afford to slip up, but if they do, it will give fifth-placed Montpellier a bit of hope if they can beat Lorient.
Bordeaux's late-season stumbles have left them with little hope of claiming a European spot but they will be hoping for some help from other teams as well as trying to beat Sochaux, while Monaco hosts Nancy, relegated sides Grenoble and Boulogne meet up, PSG visits Le Mans, Toulouse travels to St Etienne and Nice takes on Rennes.
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Lipscomb University forward Adnan Hodzic has withdrawn from the 2010 NBA Draft and will return to the school for his senior season. Hodzic had entered the draft on April 8, but did not hire an agent. "By
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Glasgow, Scotland (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Motherwell needs a win over Rangers on
Sunday to clinch fourth place in the Scottish Premier League and secure a spot
in the Europa League for next season.
But if they are successful, they can point
Morneau healthy and carrying Twins >>
Toronto, Canada (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - American League pitchers and a nagging back
haven't been able to slow down Justin Morneau, and Joe Mauer's heel injury
likely won't either.
The first baseman's production didn't suffer last season while Mau
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London, England (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Chelsea is just one win away from claiming
its third Premiership title in six years, and with a home contest against
bottom-half side Wigan on Sunday, the Blues will be firm favorites to get the
win.
Chiefs' Treen Green out for Sunday's game
How long Trent Green will remain sidelined is unknown. Coach Herm Edwards said Monday he will miss a second straight start Sunday when the Chiefs host the San Francisco 49ers.
A two-time Pro Bowler, Green was going into a feet-first hook slide when he was knocked unconscious by a thunderous, head-snapping hit from Cincinnati's Robert Geathers.
Oddsmakers at online sportsbook MySportsbook.com currently have the Chiefs listed as 7-point favorites versus the 49ers.
The 49ers got beat by Philadelphia 38-24 as a 6.5-point underdog last week. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (42.5).
Alex Smith completed 27-of-46 passes for 293 yards with a touchdown. Michael Robinson rushed for 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns on five carries.
The Chiefs lost 9-6 to Denver last week as an 11-point underdog. The combined score was well UNDER the posted over/under total (38).
Larry Johnson rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries. Damon Huard completed 17-of-23 passes for 133 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
To visit this online sports book got to MySportsbook.com for all your football betting needs.