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Lyon has crushed the champion, but Prandi leaves the role of the favorite to Cannes

Cannes has destroyed Narbonne and it has opened the season in the best possible way. The prominent player was the receiver Samica with a performance of 21 points and 82% hitting percentage

A comeback game to the Ligue A could not have been better for Lyon. It was never easy to defeat the reigning champion at their home court regardless of absences, but Silvano Prandi's players managed to do it. And they did it in a pretty convincing manner with 3:1. Lyon dominated in the block and on the service while they have shown certain weaknesses in the offense but that didn't cost them any points. They were led by the captain Slavev with 14 points, last addition to the team Hrazdira added 12 just like the middle blocker McGivern. The biggest addition, Vladimir Nikolov was having a bad day and he scored only five points so the coach Prandi didn't have any options but to send the experienced Bulgarian player to the bench.

- I haven't played a competitive game in six months and that was evident. But I am not worried, my form is getting better and soon I'll get back to my old self - said Nikolov who was met with ovations in Tours because he was a part of the team that brought home the European champions title in 2005.

Lyon has shown to be a serious team, but what's easily noticed in the first game is the weak performance in the offense of only 37%. It is obvious that they are still going through adjustment with Tischer, we can realistically expect better performance today, but they have shown that they know how compensate for it. Today they will face a tough opponent and the coach Prandi leaves the role of the favorite to the away team:

- We have defeated Tours with an excellent team play, but we have underperformed in the offense. We have shown our character which is very important in the initial phase of the season and we will definitely grow more. Still, we cannot assume the role of favorite against Cannes which is a top team with a long term tradition in the Ligue A. We have to stay humble regardless of the victory in the first round, there is no place for euphoria.

Cannes was just as successful when they crushed Narbonne,  last year's semifinalist in the championship, with 3:0. Only first set was uncertain and in the other two sets we witnessed a repeat by Cannes which was also confirmed by the results 25:16 and 25:14 in the last two sets. The coach Meneau has sent all this year's reinforcements to the court, the prominent player was a receiver Samica with an unbelievable performance of 21 points with 82% hitting percentage in offense (18/22).

- I came back in the best possible way. I have assisted my team in defeating a tough opponent with good personal performance, but what's most important is that we have won - Guillaume Samica said after the game.

Such a victory can give a team even more confidence, especially since Castard and Lopes didn't have their day so there is still some reserve in Cannes' play. Samica was followed by the middle blocker Pashytsky with 12 points, five of which were blocks.

Last season Cannes had many problems during away games, but this year's teams seems more mature and experienced than last year's team, but the coach Meneau knows that there is no advancing without winning away games' points.

- We have played an excellent game against Narbonne although some players are still trying to find their way. There was some nervousness on the eve of the first game because Narbonne was a well organized team without significant changes after last year while we were a practically a new team. The players have shown a determination which they have to show again in Lyon. They may be newcomers in the league, but they deserve respect even without a victory over Tours - Cannes coach Meneau concluded.

Lyon have defeated the reigning champions, so they are regarded as champions against Cannes today, but that view is not based on facts. Cannes are a much more experienced team, despite Lyon's interesting roster. However, most Lyon players have either been fringe players for League A players or haven't played in the top division at all - the likes of Pujol, Samica, Castard, Lopes, Pashytskyy. We mustn't forget to mention the words of Lyon star Nikolov, who admitted to being in poor form, having been sidelined for six months. Lyon took advantage of Tours difficult situation, as they missed a lot of players (Pinheiro, Konecny, Baranek and Hardy Desourcess), so that result can't be a true measure of their team. Lyon will have to deal with good Cannes block, the very thing that Tours have lacked. Despite not facing a good block, Lyon had a poor 37% conversion average.
Cannes seem to be a more experienced and overall better team, they are certainly better in block and attack and I expect it to show today. I don't see Lyon as any kind of favorites in this match - these odds are influenced by Lyon's win over Tours and don't show the real situation.