u/Mission_Guidance_593

Now that the season is over, let’s look at some stats:

1. PSG is, of course, the strongest team. After breaking the “four titles in a row” curse, PSG is arguably even more dominant this decade than in the previous one.
2. OM is clearly the “best of the rest” this decade.
3. OL has had by far the biggest decline of the decade. Lyon had always been a top-five team between 1999 and 2019, but now they are only the sixth-best French team this decade.
4. Lens has been excellent this decade, with an average performance higher than Lyon’s and only slightly lower than Monaco’s.
5. The volatility of Rennes, Nice, and Strasbourg shows how narrow the gap is between most clubs outside PSG.

Whatever the final result may be, emotions will run high during Lyon’s final match against Lens. Between Lyon’s decisive battle for Champions League football, the passing of club legend Fleury Di Nallo, Endrick’s farewell, and Tolisso's controversial exclusion from the French World Cup team, supporters should brace themselves for an emotionally charged evening at the Groupama Stadium.

Before the start of the press conference, Paulo Fonseca asked for a moment of silence in honour of Lyon’s all-time top scorer Fleury Di Nallo, who sadly passed away on Wednesday.

Everyone will be available for the final match of the season except Tanner Tessmann and Tyler Morton, who are both injured.

Despite last week’s disappointing defeat in Toulouse, the squad remains confident they can bounce back and finish the season on a high with a win in front of a sold-out crowd. Fonseca acknowledged that securing 3rd place will depend on results elsewhere, particularly Lille’s match against Auxerre, but stressed that a top four finish is still entirely in Lyon’s hands and would be a remarkable achievement considering the turmoil surrounding the club last summer.

Lyon’s opponents will be Lens. Already guaranteed to finish second, Lens have enjoyed an extraordinary season. Pierre Sage’s side travel to Lyon after an undeserved defeat to French champions PSG, a match in which they delivered an outstanding performance. Fonseca described them as one of the best teams in France.

Sunday’s game will also mark Endrick’s final appearance for Lyon. According to Fonseca, he will not be the only player leaving the club this summer, although he added that the majority of the squad is expected to remain in Lyon next season.

Despite several alarmist reports regarding Lyon’s financial situation, Fonseca sounded optimistic about the club’s future and confirmed that he will remain Lyon manager for the 2026-2027 season.

After a 2-1 away defeat against vacationing Toulouse, Lyon dropped to 4th place just before the last match round. Meanwhile, both Rennes and Lille won. Lille is now leading the race for 3rd place. If they beat Auxerre at home they will be third no matter what. This is the worst possible scenario that could have taken place for Lyon.

Now, Lyon can finish either 3rd, 4th, or 5th.

If Lyon finishes 3rd, it will take part in the Champions League group stage.

If Lyon finishes 5th, it will take part in the Europa League group stage.

If Lyon finishes 4th, it will qualify for the Champions League playoff. In order to qualify for the group stage, they will have to win two playoff rounds. The first one will take place in early August. The second one will be played mid August with the first leg roughly between the 1st and 2nd Ligue 1 match and the second leg between 2nd and 3rd. A loss would see Lyon downgraded to the Europa League group stage

Now, time to vent. What did you think of the match against Toulouse? overall performance, worst player, best player, team attitude, refereeing, your hopes and predictions for the last round.

In today's press conference, Fonseca said that everyone is available for the match against Toulouse except Mangala, who remains doubtful, and Tessmann, who is ruled out for the rest of the season.

Fonseca said the team is approaching this match with the same seriousness as any other and is not taking anything for granted. The players are preparing with humility, fully aware that an away match against Toulouse will be difficult. According to Fonseca, nothing has been achieved yet, but the squad remains confident, motivated, and determined to maintain its positive momentum.

Speaking about Toulouse, Fonseca praised both their league campaign and their style of play. He noted that, with little pressure regarding results, Toulouse could prove to be a particularly dangerous opponent. Fonseca also stated that the team is currently performing even better than during its 13-match winning streak, especially in defensive transitions and against low blocks.

He agreed with a journalist’s suggestion that the early Europa League elimination against Celta Vigo may have helped the team recover domestically by allowing more training time between matches. At the same time, he admitted the situation remains bittersweet, as the squad genuinely believed it had a strong chance to go far in the competition.

Fonseca confirmed that preparations for the upcoming transfer window are already underway, including work on potential arrivals and departures. He also agreed that the squad will need greater depth, particularly if the club secures UCL qualification.