Lyon, Marseille and Rennes begin Europa League on divergent paths | OneFootball

Lyon, Marseille and Rennes begin their Europa League campaigns on divergent paths this week. Lyon face Anderlecht on Wednesday at 21:00, Marseille visit Besiktas on Thursday at 21:00, and Rennes play Sturm Graz.

According to Le Progres, OM approach a high-stakes trip to Türkiye with the optimism from their opening 4-0 win over Strasbourg long gone. A summer clear-out, driven by an urgent need for liquidity, has left the squad lighter.

Three straight Ligue 1 defeats, including 3-2 against Paris FC at the Vélodrome, underline the slide. Paris SG follow within three days of Besiktas, and the wider schedule brings Bayer Leverkusen, l'Olympiakos and Celtic Glasgow.

Lyon’s issues are different. They fell at the Fenerbahçe play-off hurdle and dropped into a less lucrative Europa League, a missed windfall as DNCG scrutiny lingers. Against Anderlecht they must show the setback is digested and could already hint at contention in this competition.

Domestically Lyon are fifth and still searching, their latest 0-0 with Paris FC unconvincing. Rennes, by contrast, look primed, co-leaders of Ligue 1 with three wins and a draw. More than two years after a round-of-16 loss to AC Milan in February 2024, and still without a European quarter-final, they need a strong start against Sturm Graz.

Source: Le Progres

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”