LIGUE 1 REVIEW | Why are Lyon unable to refind their season-defining form? | OneFootball

January is undoubtedly one of the busiest months for any club in Europe. Contending with hectic fixture schedules and the trials and tribulations of a mid-season transfer window piles the pressure on clubs. That could not be more true at any club than Lyon. The Rhone club are focused on generating as much from player sales to avoid a forced relegation to Ligue 2 at the end of the season due to financial mismanagement.

As highlighted in a recent press release by Eagle Football Group, the owners of OL, the club’s financial situation has improved, with three permanent sales secured thus far and other initiatives raising funds to increase cash flow. Great emphasis has been placed on the economic situation, but an underlying issue that has somewhat gone under the radar is Les Gones’ form.

Lyon are currently on a barren spell of form. A 1-1 draw at the weekend against Nantes extended their winless run to 5 matches across all competitions. Les Gones believed they had done enough to secure all three points through Ernest Nuamah’s first-half strike, only for it to be cancelled out by Mostafa Mohamed’s late equaliser. In a highly-contested battle for European football, OL’s form should be perhaps considered with greater emphasis, given clubs that qualify for the UEFA Champions League receive a minimum of €18.62m.

Panic stations don’t need to be initiated just yet. Inconsistency from teams around them sees the Rhône club still firmly in the hunt for UCL qualification. Lyon currently sit in 6th, 4 points off the Champions League qualification spots. However, if the warning signs continue to show, that gap could grow significantly larger based on recent results. Pierre Sage will be tasked with avoiding such an outcome.

A goal-barren spell

Following their remarkable recovery last term, Lyon became one of the most enjoyable teams in France to watch. With high-scoring games a regular occurrence, neutrals were often in for a treat when tuning in to watch Les Gones.

Recently, this trend has buckled. Since the domestic break in French football, OL have struggled in front of goal. The French giants have not scored more than one goal in a game against top-tier opposition in 2025. In the Coupe de France, they scored twice against 5th-tier Bourgoin-Jallieu, but still suffered from embarrassment as they crashed out of the competition on penalties.

Chances have become few and far between for Lyon, but their attackers are suffering from poor form in front of goal. Lacazette hasn’t scored a goal since Les Gones defeated Nice on the 1st of December. The OL captain has lacked confidence in front of goal and has even seen his minutes reduced in favour of Georges Mikautadze who is also suffering from a lack of goalscoring form. 5 goals in 6 matches since the turn of the year isn’t good enough for a team with aspirations of returning to European football’s top table.

One element causing this barren spell could be the side’s lack of creativity, as well as their strikers suffering from confidence issues.

A missing creative spark

More often than not this season, Pierre Sage has opted to field a midfield three of Nemanja Matić, Corentin Tolisso and Jordan Veretout. This midfield boasts a Champions League and World Cup winner, a Premier League winner and 1361 matches worth of top-level experience between them. Despite their immense degree of top-level experience, none of the trio are what you would describe as creative.

Tolisso has gained plaudits for his much-improved performances this term. He is perhaps the most progressive and attack-minded of the three midfielders. Matić is a vital cog when it comes to ball progression from the base of midfield. Beyond that though, there is no real driving force or defence-splitting passing in the middle of the park for OL.

Most of the creative responsibilities within the team are placed upon the forward line and, more so, individually, Rayan Cherki. The 21-year-old is forced to drift inside from wide areas and to drop deeper to be able to pull the strings in attacking midfield and influence the game from central areas. The addition of Thiago Almada should add some much-needed reprieve for the Frenchman, but acclimatising to a new league midway through a season won’t be easy.

Managerial rumours

Lyon’s lacklustre form since the term of the year has piled pressure on Pierre Sage in the dugout at the Groupama Stadium. Links with Paulo Fonseca have only heightened the pressure, with the French coach’s job under increased scrutiny. The former Lille head coach has a good track record in France and would more than likely be welcomed by supporters of the Rhône club if it meant a greater chance of Champions League qualification. This added pressure could also be getting to the former Red Star assistant coach, with the highs of last season a long time ago and recency bias no longer under as much consideration, now is the time for Sage to rediscover their awe-inspiring form.

Ligue 1 Review

GFFN | Liam Wraith