Wow, ok this is worth mentioning.

The game is now tied 1-1, and Toulouse has had 2 red cards in the last 10 minutes for bad tackles.

I agree - it's cool to see a team without a massive payroll compete with the rich clubs. The quality of the play is always really good too, so I quite like watching L1 games.

Been following OL since 2005, so I'm probably the wrong one to talk about "underdogs" and "minnows". Agree the quality of footy has been top notch the last couple seasons. Just wish there was better coverage on Canadian channels. Following internet streams can get a little old.

France's Ligue 1 is a fad.

Am I doing it right?

You're TEACHING people how to troll now? Awesome!

Whose WAG did he bang?

Oh, les franscais! Comme typique.

Same thing.

Onto other more important news:

OL 1 : 0 ASSE

Alez les Gones!

Chris said: Whose WAG did he bang?

Not sure if we'll ever learn the lurid details of his departure from Lille, but it looks like he has joined Bastia (Ligue 1 - currently in 13th place) after apparently turning down a move to Inter Milan.

www1.skysports.com/football/news/12691/8374374/Mickael-Landreau-has-revealed-he-turned-down-the-chance-to-move-to-Inter-Milan-to-join-Bastia

Ninth round (les 32èmes de finale) of the Coupe de France this weekend. (Division levels in hard brackets were added by me; there could be some mistakes.)

List of televised matches (and an image of Eurosport's TV schedule):

Saturday 5 January

• US Boulogne [3] - Toulouse FC [1] (Eurosport à 18h00)
• LOSC Lille [1] - Nîmes Olympique [2] (Eurosport à 20h45)

Sunday 6 January

• FC Bourg-Péronnas [3] vs. Montpellier HSC [1] (Eurosport à 12h00)
• Olympique de Marseille [1] - EA Guingamp [2] (co-diffusion Eurosport)
  SM Caen [2] - AS Saint-Etienne [1]
  LB Châteauroux [2] - Girondins de Bordeaux [1]
  RC Lens [2] - Stade Rennais [1]
  FC Metz [3] - OGC Nice [1]
  SAS Epinal [3] - Olympique Lyonnais [1]
  France TV multiplex (au coeur de régions) à 14h15
• CA Bastia [3] - SC Bastia [1] (Eurosport à 17h00)
• Arras FA [5] - Paris Saint-Germain [1] (Eurosport à 20h45)

Monday 7 January

• FC Istres OP [2] - Valenciennes FC [1] (Eurosport à 20h45)

Full list of matches:

5 divisions between opponents:

• FC Drouais [6] - AS Nancy [1]
• Mende Avenir Foot Lozere [7] - AC Arles-Avignon [2]

4 divisions between opponents:

• Arras FA [5] - Paris Saint-Germain [1]
• ES Thaon [5] - Sochaux-Montbéliard [1]
• FC Chauray [5] - FC Lorient [1]

3 divisions between opponents:

• Amiens AC [4] - Évian Thonon Gaillard FC [1]
• FC Montceau Bourgogne [4] - Troyes AC [1]
• Stade Plabennecois [4] - Stade De Reims [1]
• Vendée Luçon Football [4] - Stade Brestois 29 [1]
• ASM Belfort FC [5] - Le Havre AC [2]
• Pontarlier [5] - CS Sedan [2]
• AS Savigneux-Montbrison [8] - AS Minguettes Vénissieux [5]

2 divisions between opponents:

• FC Rouen [3] - AC Ajaccio [1]
• US Boulogne [3] - Toulouse FC [1]
• FC Bourg-Péronnas [3] - Montpellier HSC [1]
• SAS Épinal [3] - Olympique Lyonnais [1]
• FC Metz [3] - OGC Nice [1]
• CA Bastia [3] - SC Bastia [1]
• Dieppe FC [4] - FC Nantes [2]

1 division between opponents:

• Le Mans FC [2] - Le Poire Sur Vie VF [3]
• Stade Bordelais [4] - US Jeanne d'Arc Carquefou [3]
• US Saint-Malo [4] - USSA Vertou [5]
• Lille OSC [1] - Nîmes Olympique [2]
• AS Muret [5] - Vendée Fontenay Foot [4]
• SM Caen [2] - AS Saint-Etienne [1]
• LB Châteauroux [2] - Girondins de Bordeaux [1]
• Olympique Marseille [1] - EA Guingamp [2]
• RC Lens [2] - Stade Rennais [1]
• FC Istres OP [2] - Valenciennes FC [1]

Opponents in same division:

• Marseille Consolat G [4] - AS Moulins [4]
• CSO Amnéville [4] - US Raon-l'Étape [4]
• CS Meaux [6] - Stade Portelois [6]