Lyon looking to bounce back from embarrassing opening-day defeat.

2024-09-15

After a disappointing opening loss to Rennes, Lyon will look to make amends in their home debut against Monaco, who aim to build on their winning start to the season.

Olympique Lyonnais

Lyon failed to get off to a winning start after a 3-0 loss to Rennes last weekend in a Ligue 1 opening fixture. Despite taking 16 shots, Les Gones were only able to put two on target as they fell apart at Roazhon Park.

That defeat left Lyon with successive losses in opening-day fixtures, following their defeat on Match Day 1 last term to Strasbourg [1–2]. Pierre Sage will be looking to see his side put behind the embarrassing 3-0 loss when they host Monaco for their first game on home turf.

It will be their 1,200th home game in Ligue 1, becoming the 6th side to reach the milestone. However, a home win to celebrate the numerical milestone could be far from reach, considering Lyon’s loose defence.

The hosts have conceded 31 goals in Ligue 1 in this calendar year, more than any other team currently in the topflight. Meanwhile, Sage will be keen to see his side pick up a shutout when he deploys the 4-3-3 formation, with Alexandre Lacazette replacing new arrival Mikautadze at the heart of attack following his return from suspension.

Nicolás Tagliafico also rejoins the squad after failing to feature on Match Day 1 due to suspension.

Monaco

Unlike the hosts, Monaco got off to a winning start in their game against newly promoted St. Etienne with a 1-0 victory. The only goal of the game was scored by twenty-nine-year-old Japanese midfielder Takumi Minamino in the 28th minute, ensuring a five-game winning home run for Monaco, their best since May 2022.

Picking up back-to-back victories is Saturday’s objective when they travel to Lyon. After securing a clean sheet on Match Day 1, Monaco will aim for successive shutouts in the opening two games for the first time since the 2010-11 season.

A 4-4-2 formation with Embolo and Folarin Balogun in attack is expected from Adi Hütter. Lyon will be without Diop, who suffered a stress fracture in training. “It’s bad news for Edan Diop. He was injured this week, and it’s the same issue,” Hütter said. “It’s a stress fracture. He is out for Lyon. We don’t know how long he is out. It’s sad for him because he’s a talented player,” he added.

Goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki is also ruled out of this Match Day 2 clash.