Game 69 - Lyon Win It At The End

The battle for the Serie A title in game 69 this season saw a titanic struggle between Rich Coupland's Atletico Madrid, Joe Hughes' Lyon and Pat Lyons' Real Madrid.  The three were close all season, with three points between them pretty much throughout.  Atletico were dominant in the cups - beating Palermo 1-0 in the final of the FA Cup, adding to that the UEFA Cup where they beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final and the League Cup - Real Madrid beaten 2-1 in the final of that one.  The league title proved just one step too far for Rich's side though. In week 18 when they drew 1-1 with rivals Real and Lyon lost 1-0 to Dominic Howlett's Hoffenheim side they led the table by a point, but lost 1-0 the following week to Glen Pine's Real Madrid and were back playing catch up.  Week 21 went against them when they were beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid and suddenly they were out of the running.  With one game to go though, that result left Real Madrid on top but with a tough away game at Anthony Woods' Bayern to come.  Lyon beat Benfica 3-2 in their final match, Real couldn't do the same - going down 2-1 at Bayern - and the title went to France.  A great performance from Joe Hughes' Lyon, who win the league with 45 points, two clear of Real Madrid, with Atletico a point further back and James Teager's AC Milan finishing fourth on 41 points, only four behind in the end.  Steve Bennett's Arsenal won the Champions League, beating AC Milan 1-0 in the final, whilst QPR won the British FA Cup, beating Liverpool in the final of that trophy.  The League Cup was won by Chelsea, Blackpool beaten 2-1 in the final by James West's side.  Glen Pine's Bournemouth side dominated the Premier Division, winning the title by 10 points, with 56, from Steve Bennett's Arsenal in second and Pat Lyons' Man United in third, both on 46 points.  James West's Chelsea were fourth with 39 points.