Days after their shock exit from the Coupe de France, Lyon aim to get back on track when they host Toulouse in Ligue 1 action on Saturday at Groupama Stadium.
OL currently sit sixth in the table following a 2-1 defeat versus Brest last weekend, and Toulouse are four points behind them in eighth, losing by that same score against Strasbourg.
Match preview
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It has been anything but a strong start to the new year for Olympique Lyonnais, who have lost consecutive matches across all competitions, with their only triumph of 2025 being against lowly Montpellier HSC (1-0).
Earlier this week, they were eliminated on penalties by Bourgoin-Jallieu, a fifth-tier side from Championnat National 3, the first time Les Gones had ever lost to a team outside the top four tiers at that tournament.
With the sanctions against them, including potential relegation, in place, Lyon are in a difficult situation despite currently holding a spot in the Europa Conference League.
After their midweek defeat, manager Pierre Sage said that they will have to face the shame of that embarrassment, while another this weekend would equal their longest losing run in the top flight this season (two).
That said, OL have built up a lot of momentum at home, winning four consecutive matches at Groupama Stadium across all competitions and unbeaten in five successive encounters in Lyon.
They have not lost any of their previous 16 meetings with Toulouse in this competition, their longest run against a single opponent in Ligue 1 since claiming at least a point in 10 straight top-flight games versus Saint-Etienne between 1994 and 2010.
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Their two-match winning run in the league ended last Sunday, but Le Tef remain in high spirits, suffering just one defeat in their previous five competitive fixtures.
Carles Martinez Novell has seen his side earn a positive result in back-to-back competitive away contests, failing to concede in either of those matches.
With a victory this weekend, this team can match their longest away winning run in Ligue 1 this season (two) and inch closer to a place in Europe for the first time since the 2023-24 campaign.
So far in 2024-25, they have lost two matches when scoring the opening goal in a top-flight affair, suffering a 2-1 defeat at home to Lyon back in September.
Le Tefece have kept four clean sheets in their previous six away games across all competitions, as many as they managed in their opening 26 encounters under Martinez Novell.
Toulouse are winless in their last 29 away matches versus OL, with their previous triumph against them in Lyon dating back to 1966 (1-0).
Team News
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After 45 minutes last weekend, Nicolas Tagliafico was taken off due to a knock and replaced by Abner, and the Argentine is the only questionable Lyon player on the injury front for this match.
OL remain active on the transfer market, loaning Adryelson to Anderlecht, Mamadou Diawara was loaned to Le Havre, Maxence Caqueret joined Como and the French side signed Thiago Almada from their parent club Botafogo.
Jordan Veretout had their only goal against Brest last week, while Georges Mikautadze and Nemanja Matic scored in their Coupe de France match on Wednesday, but Alexandre Lacazette and Corentin Tolisso missed in the shootout, leading to their exit from that competition.
An injury may keep Vincent Sierro out of the Toulouse lineup this weekend, while Rasmus Nicolaisen is also a question mark because of an ankle injury.
The three-game suspension for Niklas Schmidt has ended, which means the German midfielder is eligible to feature on Saturday.
Ismael Doukoure scored an own goal for their only strike against Strasbourg last week, while Charlie Cresswell and Denis Genreau netted in their 2-1 Coupe de France victory over Stade Laval.
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Perri; Mata, Caleta-Car, Niakhate, Abner; Tessmann; Cherki, Veretout, Tolisso, Fofana; Lacazette
Toulouse possible starting lineup:
Restes; McKenzie, Cresswell, Akdag; Donnum, Genreau, Schmidt, Suazo; Aboukhlal, Gboho; King
We say: Lyon 2-0 Toulouse
Many veteran players on Lyon suffered a blow to their pride in midweek, and we expect them to bounce back with plenty of determination on Saturday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
