Ligue 1 season opener: olympique lyonnais’s postponement request denied

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.