Is Lyon making a comeback? Not quite reaching their record-breaking performance levels, but showing glimpses of the team that stunned Ligue 1 last season by climbing from relegation candidates to a respectable sixth place finish?
Initially, Lyon’s summer signings seemed to falter, with Saïd Benrahma, Georges Mikautadze, and Moussa Niakhaté struggling to find their form despite a hefty €70m price tag. Even left-back Abner appeared lost, and Rayan Cherki, who resisted offers from Paris Saint-Germain and abroad, was left out of the squad for refusing to sign a new contract. Alexandre Lacazette also seemed off pace, likely fatigued from his Olympic campaign, leaving Lyon in a precarious position with European competitions looming and rivals like Monaco and Marseille excelling.
However, things took a turn for the better as Lyon secured a convincing 4-0 victory over Le Havre on the road, marking their fifth consecutive win across all competitions. While their opponents may not have been top-tier domestically, wins against Olympiakos and Rangers in the Europa League showcased Lyon’s strength, despite some early nerves during the match at Ibrox.
The turning point came after a frustrating home defeat to Marseille, where even with a man down for the full 90 minutes, Lyon couldn’t secure a win. Following that match, Mikautadze and Benrahma found themselves on the bench, making way for Malick Fofana and Cherki to take the reins – especially after Cherki renewed his contract until 2026, earning back coach Pierre Sage’s favor.
These young talents have been shining during Lyon’s winning streak, with Cherki contributing a goal and three assists, while Fofana scored four goals and provided an assist. Fofana, only 19 years old, has showcased his potential by displacing Benrahma and Sage’s refusal to rely too heavily on older players, learning from Lacazette’s sluggish start that hindered Lyon’s ability to keep up with the league leaders.