Fans of OL against Nice at Parc OL (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP)
On a five-game winless streak in Ligue 1, OL has seen their lead in the race for the Champions League shrink. However, as they enter the final sprint, supporters still believe in finishing third or fourth.
February 15, 2026. On this Valentine’s Day weekend, all OL lovers were thrilled. In the closing match of the 22nd round of Ligue 1, Paulo Fonseca’s players just defeated Nice (2-0) and achieved a thirteenth consecutive victory in all competitions. Holding strong in third place, Lyon now had a five-point lead over OM, eleven over Lille and Rennes for the last European spots. While everyone agreed this incredible streak wouldn’t last, few expected that a month and a half later, the gap between third and seventh in the league would be just five points.
Yet, that’s the reality as OL’s rough patch has put them back in that group of five. After a two-week international break, Ligue 1 will resume with an exciting final sprint on all levels. But in Décines, it is hoped that the last seven games of the season will be of a different quality than the last five. With 47 points currently, OL knows they have no room for error. The away match against Angers on Sunday (3:00 PM) needs to reignite a stalled machine.
The hope is still alive among supporters. Despite the alarming situation, the return of injured players naturally gives reasons to believe. In a survey conducted by Olympique-et-Lyonnais on its site and X, the momentum doesn’t suggest alarm. On the contrary, returning to the Champions League after six years seems more than ever within reach. 66.2% of respondents (1,200) see OL finishing in third or fourth place at the end of the 34th round of Ligue 1.
This optimism contrasts with the pessimism after eight games without a victory in all competitions. However, in this desire for the Champions League, some are cautious about the fourth place standing. The Champions League would still be far with a barrage and a preliminary round to pass to reach the main competition. A challenging path that implies an early summer preparation, which may not be ideal this year.
No one imagines a season without… Following summer movements, OL could send a small group of players to the World Cup. These players might not be available or in top form for a competition restart in early August… On the set of “Tant qu’il y aura des Gones,” our consultants saw this as a poisoned gift, and they are not alone. “Too lazy for the mess that is the 4th place, limiting your preparation, the transfer market, and the budget. Might as well finish 5th,” tweeted @BollyOnFire on our X account.
Between the Champions League and the Europa League, OL’s management has planned several business scenarios. But everyone is obviously hoping for a European qualification for the next season to compensate for the great work done since last August. Supporters tend to agree with our consultant, as only 6% see OL finishing outside the European spots.
