Olympique Lyonnais will not receive any special treatment as they embark on their European campaign. The club, not yet fully qualified for the prestigious Champions League, faces a demanding schedule, requiring them to navigate a third preliminary round in early August, followed by potential play-off matches roughly two weeks later.
These crucial play-off fixtures are set to clash with the commencement of the Ligue 1 championship season, where Paulo Fonseca’s squad is scheduled to face Toulouse. Recognizing this scheduling conflict, the Lyon management formally approached the LFP (Ligue de Football Professionnel) via letter, requesting a deferral of their opening Ligue 1 matchday. The club reportedly emphasized the broader interests of French football to bolster its appeal for the postponement.
However, the LFP delivered a negative response, firmly declining to reschedule any Ligue 1 fixtures at the very start of the season. Consequently, Olympique Lyonnais must now prepare to manage this challenging dual schedule, should they successfully advance to the Champions League play-offs.
