‘Mad match’ continues Lyon’s incredible revival and consolidates European standing – Get French Football News

“We delivered a mad match and that’s what turned things in our favour,” reacted Pierre Sage after Olympique Lyonnais’ latest last-gasp victory. 

Lyon have had a knack for the spectacular in recent times. After beating Stade Brestois 4-3 with a 97th-minute winner, AS Monaco 3-2 with an 84th-minute winner and now Lille OSC with a 92nd-minute winner, Lyon have consolidated their European standing. 

PLAYER RATINGS | Lille 3-4 Lyon: Substitutes inspire yet another dramatic comeback for OL in a 7-goal thriller.

🇫🇷 Bafodé Diakité, 7
🇨🇦 Jonathan David, 5
🇬🇼 Mama Baldé, 7
🇩🇿 Saïd Benrahma, 6https://t.co/abN9RmfIMv

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) May 6, 2024

As recently as February, OL were still in the Ligue 1 relegation zone and when Sage inherited the side at the end of November 2023, his side were bottom of the league and looked destined for the drop to Ligue 2. Sage, who is yet to receive his coaching licence, has 17 victories in 24 games with Les Gones and he has forged an identity as a comeback team – not only for the way that he has taken the club out of the relegation zone and into the European places, but also for the way in which his side reverse trends in matches.

Lyon – the comeback kings

Since Sage’s arrival Lyon have taken 22 points from losing positions, the highest total in Europe’s top five leagues in that period and more than the likes of Manchester City (20 points) and Liverpool (16 points). OL inflicted Lille’s first home defeat since 26th September 2023 in a result that not only dints LOSC’s chances of securing automatic qualification for the UEFA Champions League group stages but also bolsters their own hopes of European football. 

Les Gones are now seventh in Ligue 1 thanks to Mama Baldé’s late winner, two points clear of eighth-placed Stade Rennais and just two points off fifth-placed RC Lens. Both of those sides face each other at the weekend. 

Seventh place will be enough for Lyon to qualify for European football next season. Sage’s men still have to face Paris Saint-Germain in the Coupe de France final. Should OL win that, they will qualify for the UEFA Europa League but failing that, the seventh-placed side will qualify for next season’s UEFA Europa Conference League. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle