■ Europa League: Besiktas v Lyon, Thursday at 11.05pm; Lyon lead 2-1 on aggregate
In the middle of last July, Olympique Lyonnais’ squad set off for Istanbul, optimistic about the campaign ahead of them, ready to move up the gears of their pre-season. Their friendly at Fenerbahce was to be part of their preparation.
They trained at their host club’s practice site the day before the scheduled fixture. That night, an attempted political coup brought Turkey to a standstill. In their hotel, the Lyon players and staff felt confused, then alarmed at the news reaching them. The city had gone into emergency shutdown. The match was cancelled, and they flew home.
Nobody then imagined this might form part of a pattern — of tension, of delays, of abandonments that have become a feature of Lyon’s 2016-17 season, most heavily concentrated into the last seven days.
The team landed in Istanbul on Wednesday for the second leg of a Europa League quarter-final against Besiktas that began in the ugliest circumstances. The first leg kick-off at the French club’s new Parc OL was delayed for 45 minutes because of violence, notably projectiles hurled from a high section of one grandstand — where followers of the Turkish champions were concentrated — onto Lyon fans housed beneath them. There were pitch invasions, and in a toxic atmosphere, enough order restored eventually for 90 minutes of football, won 2-1 by Lyon.
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Read more
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The club’s next match, Sunday’s Ligue 1 visit to Bastia in Corsica, never made the final whistle.
A series of acts of aggression from Bastia followers allegedly attached to the notorious “Bastia 1905” group of ultras towards Lyon players during the warm-up ahead of kick-off led, first, to a delayed kick-off, and, because of the seething atmosphere under which the match had started, to an abandonment at half-time. Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes had been confronted by Bastia stewards on his way to the dressing room at half-time and scuffled — this the same Lopes who was injured by a firework thrown from the crowd at Metz back in December.
Lyon’s repeated proximity to events that have disfigured French football this season does not put them at the focus of blame. Far from it, although the club’s security arrangements for the visit of Besiktas will be examined by Uefa, as will the conduct of the Besiktas followers in France last Thursday. Lyon fans have been discouraged from travelling to Wednesday’s return leg in a Turkey that remains politically edgy after last week’s referendum on constitutional reform.
As for the Lyon players, a week after they were anxiously texting family members in the crowd as they waited in the dressing room for word of when, or if, the first leg would kick off, while police and stewards attempted to quell the trouble in the Parc OL, and four days after the violence at Bastia, they approach their most significant game of the season in less than an ideal state of mind.
“We have asked ourselves a lot of questions,” Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas said. “But we want to reach this semi-final. And we are never so strong as when we are facing problems.”
Aulas’s request that the return be played at a neutral venue were dismissed by Uefa and Besiktas. The Turkish club, who are anxious there be no further incidents that could worsen any sanctions against them, have assured Lyon there is no threat to their safety at their modern arena.
It will certainly be noisy and intimidating. Besiktas, after all, are on the cusp of history, and the possibility of a first ever semi-final in a major European competition. They dropped into the Europa League only after having missed out on the Champions League knockout phase on the last day of their group stage round-robin, in which they had beaten and drawn with Napoli and held Benfica to two draws, the second of which featured a comeback from 3-0 down at their raucous home.
“We can qualify and turn this tie around,” Besikstas manager Senol Gunes said. But he must do so without centre-forward Vincent Aboubakar and defender Marcelo, both suspended.
As for Lyon, fourth in Ligue 1 and too far behind third place to qualify via their league position for next season’s Champions League, the Europa League will make or break their campaign, and shape whether it is to be remembered for its achievements or for the ugly events that overshadowed the football.
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
THE BIO: Mohammed Ashiq Ali
Proudest achievement: “I came to a new country and started this shop”
Favourite TV programme: the news
Favourite place in Dubai: Al Fahidi. “They started the metro in 2009 and I didn’t take it yet.”
Family: six sons in Dubai and a daughter in Faisalabad
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'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
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Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
All you need to know about Formula E in Saudi Arabia
What The Saudia Ad Diriyah E-Prix
When Saturday
Where Diriyah in Saudi Arabia
What time Qualifying takes place from 11.50am UAE time through until the Super Pole session, which is due to end at 12.55pm. The race, which will last for 45 minutes, starts at 4.05pm.
Who is competing There are 22 drivers, from 11 teams, on the grid, with each vehicle run solely on electronic power.
Company%20Profile
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Company%20Profile
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
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The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
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