Matchday in focus: Lyon hungry for points | OneFootball

Rapidly improving form and an honours list that is second only to Paris Saint-Germain. We place Olympique Lyonnais under the microscope.

The opponents

One of France’s most successful clubs, Lyon first got their hands on the Ligue 1 title in 2002 – the first in a record-breaking run of seven consecutive top-flight championships. They have also won five French Cups, one League Cup and seven French Super Cups.

OL have been a top-flight side for 36 years. They are currently fifth in the Ligue 1 table and are coached by Pierre Sage.

The coach

Sage has been in charge of the club since 30 November 2023. The 45-year-old was previously head of Lyon’s youth department.

Tactics

Tactically, Olympique have proven to be flexible opponents in the Europa League this season. Sage has switched between 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-3 formations in their past three games, although he tends to opt for a back line of Nicolás Tagliafico, Duje Caleta-Car, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Moussa Niakhaté in front of goalkeeper Lucas Perri. Thirty-year-old former Bayern Munich star Corentin Tolisso and 31-year-old Jordan Veretout – who has spent time in England and Italy – pull the strings in a midfield packed with international experience, with the likes of Rayan Cherki adding creativity. The fleet-footed Alexandre Lacazette is often their target man up front, while Malick Fofana can be deployed as a striker or in a wide position. Form

Lyon have managed to return to calmer waters in Ligue 1 after a mixed start to their campaign. Recent impressive wins over Angers SCO (3-0) and OGC Nice (4-1) have lifted their overall league record to seven wins, four draws and three defeats this season, with their 1-0 loss to Besiktas JK their only defeat in their past 14 competitive matches. Club captain Lacazette has found the net eight times in all competitions so far – more often than any of his team-mates.

Head-to-head record

Eintracht Frankfurt and Olympique Lyonnais meet for the first time on Thursday evening.

Key stats and runs

After losing only two of their first 23 Europa League matches on home soil, Lyon have been beaten in two of their last three – although that includes the 3-0 defeat by West Ham United in the 2021/22 quarter-finals.

Reunions Rémy Descamps and Kevin Trapp were team-mates at Paris Saint-Germain in 2017/18, while Arthur Theate and Warmed Omari both played for Stade Rennes in 2022/23 and 2023/24.