Watching English football in France has become a lot easier in recent years, at least if you subscribe to Canal+, which we don't, or frequent a 'British pub' with a UK satellite system. However, Champions league nights, or at least one of them, can be a bit more problematic, because the French broadcast rights are shared between TF1 (most popular terrestrial channel) and Canal+ (satellite chain). TF1 gets first choice and exclusive rights on the night they pick, which means only one match gets broadcast in France that night.
Yesterday was such a night, exacerbated by the fact that OL were playing in the dark side of Manchester. Thus the pubs, not surprisingly, were showing that match and were packed. There was a slim chance our local would have showed a second game on another screen, but given Barça's popularity in France, I figured Milan vs AFC wouldn't get a look in.
We thus had little choice but to stay at home. La bienheureuse watched TV coverage from the place of nightmares, while I 'followed' events in the San Siro, each following the other game via the shrieks, curses, groans and yells emanating from the other room. And all was almost alright on the night...
