Match preview

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.

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).

Lyon possible starting lineup:

Perri; Mata, Caleta-Car, Niakhate, Abner; Tessmann; Cherki, Veretout, Tolisso, Fofana; Mikautadze

Toulouse possible starting lineup:

Restes; McKenzie, Cresswell, Akdag; Donnum, Genreau, Schmidt, Suazo; Aboukhlal, Gboho; King