Tag Archives: Olympique Lyonnais

Olympique Lyonnais to challenge Paris Saint-Germain for the French Ligue 1 title

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French Ligue 1 runners-up Olympique Lyonnais have recently strengthened the side with the signing of Manchester United’s Rafael this summer. The Brazilian defender will compete with Christophe Jallet and Mehdi Aeffane for a starting place in the side next season, but could he be getting his hands on some silverware in 2015/16?

Lyon ran Paris Saint-Germain close in the title-race last season, and importantly have retained their standout stars of the previous for another push this time round. Striker Alexandre Lacazette bagged 27 league goals in 33 games last season, and reaffirmed his desire to stay at the Stade de Gerland for the following year and more. He was linked with every top side in Europe following his outstanding scoring record in France, but remains loyal.

Attacking-midfielder Nabil Fekir scored and created 22 goals in the division, and is also sticking around to fight for the title. “I have to back up what I have done. I have to do everything I can to continue progressing. There is also the Champions League. I want to give back to OL what the club has given me,” he said.

The French club have a side good enough to challenge Paris Saint-Germain, and their impressive form for the majority of the last campaign proved they can stand up to Laurent Blanc’s side. With Lyon able to retain their best players despite interest from top European sides shows just how much confidence the players have in the club.

Olympique Lyonnais have real history in the league, dominating the top-flight between 2001-2008, winning seven consecutive titles under four different managers. PSG’s financial muscle has seen them as the top side in France over the last few years, but Lyon are making up the ground gradually. Their title rivals are ageing, and are expecting to lose some of their most influential players in the coming seasons, so it’s a matter of time before a shift in power.

Lyon have the best striker in the division in Lacazette, they have the best playmaker in Fekir, and they have a defence who helped to earn 16 clean sheets last season. Manager Hubert Fournier is worried about pre-season preparations, however, suggesting certain individuals are showing the wrong attitude. Nevertheless, the French giants have all the ingredients to be a side worthy of challenging PSG for the league title this campaign, but they need to finally prove their worth to bring back the glory days.

How far can they go?

Olympique Lyonnais to pip Paris Saint-Germain to next season’s French Ligue 1 title?

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Olympique Lyonnais fell short in the French Ligue 1 title race this season, with a dip in form between February and April coinciding with eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain enjoying an eight-game winning streak that swung the pendulum their way. But Lyon won’t be too disheartened with the way their season panned out, as next season they will be in the Champions League group stages for the first time in three years, which could ensure they hold onto their standout performers this summer.

Premier League giants Arsenal are reportedly keen on a number of players from the squad, and are looking to make their interest official very soon, potentially in the form of a bid. Lyon know without adding any trophies to the cabinet, it’s a near impossible task to convince their stars to turn down moves to the top European sides, but how close they came to winning the title this season could see many giving it one more year before considering their future.

Striker Alexandre Lacazette is the most coveted star in the team, and the one play Lyon are most desperate to keep. The 24-year-old scored 27 goals in 33 league games this season, and has been linked with near every elite European side this summer as a result. He’s expressed little desire to leave, however, and the club are confident he will stay for at least another term, which could see many replicate his actions.

Lyon were unbeaten against every side in the top-four of the French Ligue 1, which showcases how strong they are compared to the rest of the field. Paris Saint-Germain had to settle for a share of the spoils in both home and away games against The Kids, and 2015/16 could see the Parisians stronghold on the domestic league finally broken.

PSG have a host of ageing players in the team, whose eventual exits could well have an adverse affect on the fortunes of the club. Zlatan Ibrahimovic turns 34 later this year, while teammates Thiago Silva, Maxwell, Thiago Motta, Ezequiel Lavezzi are all 40 and over. Lyon are certainly going in the right direction, and if they can keep their bet talents at the club this summer, while shoring up any positions they are somewhat weak in, next season’s title could be theirs. They certainly have all the makings for a side capable of going all the way providing they start strongly, as they dropped 13 points in their opening eight games this campaign.

Olympique Lyonnais to pip Paris Saint-Germain to next season’s French Ligue 1 title?

Has Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette Outgrown the French Ligue 1?

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Olympique Lyonnais striker Alexandre Lacazette was recently named Ligue 1 Player of the Year (2014/15), and made the Ligue 1 Team of the Year (2014/15), following an incredible campaign that has seen him score 27 goals in 33 games for the French giants. It wasn’t enough to lead them to the title, but his antics haven’t gone unnoticed by the elite clubs in Europe, and his future could well be away from the Stade de Gerland as a result.

He’s so far been a one-club man in professional football, which is certainly surprising given he’s been on the radar for a host of sides for the last couple of seasons, and this summer could well be his last with his boyhood team. Lacazette has been outstanding in the division, and reportedly wants to move to a top side in order to win trophies. The likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain have been linked with his services, but the French club are fighting his sale.

“Nothing is ever sure in football but we will do everything to keep Alexandre with us. €50m would not be enough, that is not the price. I have never spoken with (the PSG president) Nasser al-Khelaifi about Alexandre Lacazette and I do not get the feeling, when I listen to Laurent Blanc, that he wants to sign him,” said Lyon chairman, Jean-Michel Aulas.

Lyon have a fantastic record with developing players into top European talents. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and striker Karim Benzema are their best exports in recent times, joining Tottenham and Real Madrid respectively. Lacazette could well be the next player to make the big-money move, and his scoring record suggests he will succeed in any league.

The Ligue 1 runners-up simply don’t have the financial muscle to keep the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain quiet if either side has a transfer target, so it’s unlikely they can convince the talented striker to stay for another season, especially if offers are tabled. Lacazette turns 24 at the end of the month, and is at the time where he should be close to playing his best football before hitting the peak age.

From what he has shown in his time with Lyon, the Frenchman could be one of the best strikers in Europe under the right guidance. He will only ever go so far with Les Rogues, and the lack of a trophy this season won’t have helped matters.

Has Lacazette outgrown Ligue 1?

Nabil Fekir: One to Watch

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Olympique Lyonnais made waves in the French Ligue 1 this season, pegging Paris Saint-Germain close to the domestic title. They have young playmaker Nabil Fekir to thank, with the highly-rated midfielder enjoying a standout campaign that has seen his reputation propelled to new heights. A host of elite clubs in Europe have been linked with Fekir this summer as a result of his form, and the 21-year-old looks set for a bright future.

Born in Lyon, and a product of the side’s conveyor belt of talent, Fekir has excelled in his second season in the first-team, scoring 12 goals and making nine assists in 32 Ligue 1 games. He’s created 47 chances, and has made 86 successful dribbles which makes him a nightmare for any defender. The young midfielder perhaps wasn’t too well-known earlier in the season by the masses, but he’s certainly made a name for himself now. He’s done well to keep his feet on the ground and let his football do the talking, but it will be hard for Lyon to keep him due to his consistency over the course of the campaign.

Fekir hasn’t gone more than three league games without scoring a goal or making an assist, and his club form has seen him represent the French national team too. France manager Didier Deschamps gave a glowing endorsement upon his initial call-up, saying: “Fekir is a player with great potential. I consider that he can bring us something different. He plays in a different role to the others. He can score and set up others to score.”

This summer will be crucial as the 21-year-old will now be eyeing a place Les Bleus’ squad for Euro 2016, so he needs to ensure he’s in the right place to enjoy a successful season to impress. Arsenal of the Premier League, and Paris Saint-Germain are two sides reportedly keen on the playmaker, but Fekir appears to be content to spend another year with his boyhood side.

He recently said about the speculation: “It’s always flattering, that’s for sure. It shows that I’ve had quite a good season. But I prefer to stay at Lyon for another year so I can build on what I have done.” Fekir is still young enough to bide his time before making the inevitable move away from Lyon to play at the highest level, but the interest will continue to rise in his services, which puts an expiration date on his time with OL.

How good has Nabil Fekir been for Olympique Lyonnais this season? Where could he eventually end up in his career?