Two of the clubs lagging behind slightly in the race for the top four in Ligue 1 will face off at the Groupama Stadium on Saturday night, when Lyon host Lille.
Lille have spent most of the season inside the top four, and even reached the last 16 of the Champions League, but they now find themselves outside those precious positions, while Lyon’s own hopes for a return to Europe’s top-tier competition took a blow last weekend.
Match preview
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Even though manager Paulo Fonseca is currently serving a hefty ban for his conduct towards a referee last month, Lyon had been going along nicely, maintaining their charge for a spot in the top four.
However, with so many clubs bunched together, just one defeat can be costly, and that is what OL suffered last weekend, losing 4-2 at in-form Strasbourg, who leapfrogged them in the table in doing so.
It is hard to be critical though, because after going out of the Coupe de France to amateur opposition, Lyon’s only defeats since mid-January have been against Marseille, Paris Saint-Germain and Strasbourg – three of the league’s best sides so far in 2025.
Fonseca’s side slipped to seventh with that defeat last weekend, but the gap to fourth is still just two points, while the automatic Champions League places are a mere four points away.
Lyon have won seven of their last nine matches, but now face another tricky test before welcoming Manchester United to the Groupama in midweek.
The hosts will be confident though, considering they have lost just one of their last 12 matches at the Groupama, and that was against PSG, while only the top two have netted more goals on home soil than Lyon’s 28.
However, Lille are often unwelcome visitors, because Les Dogues have won on six of their last eight trips to Lyon, and the hosts have only won 13 of their 48 Ligue 1 matches against Lille in the 21st century – their lowest rate against any club.
OL also failed to pick up a win in the reverse, but they would have still been very happy with the outcome, as Malick Fofana snatched a point with an injury-time equaliser.
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Lille were able to hold on in a tight league encounter last weekend though, edging out Lens thanks to Mathias Fernandez-Pardo‘s early strike.
That should help pick Bruno Genesio‘s side up after a disappointing start to March saw them suffer elimination from the Champions League and a surprise defeat at Nantes, and Les Dogues are now only outside the top four on goal difference.
The fixtures look promising for Lille too, because after this weekend, only one of their final six matches will come against a club currently in the top seven, but form in particular on the road has been poor against clubs up and down the table.
LOSC have lost four of their last six away games, with that run following on from an 11-game unbeaten streak on the road, with many draws now turning into defeats.
Team News
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Lyon will have Sael Kumbedi back from suspension in this one, but Fofana, the hero from the reverse fixture, is currently absent with a knee injury.
Nicolas Tagliafico and Thiago Almada should return to the starting XI after being left on the bench following a long journey home from Argentina duty last week, but Alexandre Lacazette could remain in reserve given the form of Georges Mikautadze.
The Georgian striker netted his eighth goals in five matches for club and country in the defeat to Strasbourg, while the Lyon man has also provided five assists in that time.
Lille defender Alexsandro is available again after serving a ban in the win over Lens, but Samuel Umtiti and Tiago Santos remain out injured at the back.
Wantaway winger Edon Zhegrova is still not ready to return from a groin injury, making it slightly surprising that both Hakon Arnar Haraldsson and Remy Cabella were both unused subs last weekend.
Angel Gomes‘s peculiar absence from the first team also continued, making it five consecutive matches without coming off the bench for the England midfielder in last week’s win.
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Lucas Perri; Maitland-Niles, Clinton Mata, Niakhate, Tagliafico; Tolisso, Veretout; Nuamah, Cherki, Almada; Mikautadze
Lille possible starting lineup:
Chevalier; Meunier, Diakite, Alexsandro, Ismaily; Andre, Andre Gomes, Mukau; Fernandez-Pardo, David, Haraldsson
We say: Lyon 1-1 Lille
Remarkably, the two clubs have identical records in 2025, winning six, drawing two and losing four, and there is a good chance that their records could still be matching by the end of Saturday.
Lille have taken just 17 points from a possible 39 on the road, but the vast majority of their away matches this season have ended level, and it is very tough to split these two sides who are both capable of achieving success this season.
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