Olympique Lyonnais will not receive special treatment as they embark on their crucial European campaign. Not yet fully secured a place in the prestigious Champions League group stage, OL must first navigate a challenging third preliminary round in early August. Should they succeed, the potential for high-stakes play-off matches looms approximately two weeks later.
These pivotal European play-off fixtures are scheduled to coincide just days before the commencement of the Ligue 1 season, where Paulo Fonseca’s squad is slated to kick off their domestic campaign against Toulouse. Recognizing this demanding overlap, the Lyon management formally approached the LFP (Ligue de Football Professionnel) via written correspondence, seeking a postponement for their opening Ligue 1 fixture. The club emphasized the overarching benefit to French football as the basis for their appeal, highlighting the importance of their European aspirations.
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Despite OL’s compelling argument, the LFP delivered a negative response, firmly declining to reschedule any Ligue 1 matches at the season’s outset. Consequently, Olympique Lyonnais will need to adapt to this challenging schedule, balancing their domestic commitments with their European ambitions, should they successfully advance to the play-off stage.
