The Challengers: Can a revitalised Lyon upset the odds?

At the start of July, Olympique Lyonnais were staring at the abyss. The club’s financial reality forced the surprise sale of Georges Mikautadze to Spain, and Paulo Fonseca’s men began pre-season technically as a Ligue 2 BKT side before an administrative reprieve. Two months later, Les Gones sit level on points with Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1 McDonald's, with four wins from their first five games.

A Team That “Never Gives Up”

Friday night’s narrow 1-0 victory over Angers summed up the new OL spirit. It was a frustrating evening, with the visitors defending deep and threatening on the counter. But patience was rewarded when American midfielder Tanner Tessmann pounced on a rebound to score the decisive goal in the 65th minute.

“We had to be patient with the ball and wait for the right moment,” Tessmann told reporters after the match. “This team never gives up, and that’s what gave us the win.”

That resilience was on display in stoppage time, when debutant goalkeeper Dominik Greif made two spectacular saves and Clinton Mata cleared off the line to preserve the three points. “It was incredible,” Tessmann said. “The spirit of the team was to never let go.”

Fonseca’s Return to the Dressing Room and new faces

Paulo Fonseca is still banned from the touchline until late November, but was finally allowed back into the dressing room against Angers last Friday. His players admitted his presence at half-time was vital: “The most important thing in his return is the break,” one OL player told L’Équipe. “If tomorrow, at half-time, we have a problem, it will be quickly fixed. That’s what we missed.”

Fonseca himself embraced the challenge: “Seeing the match from the stands is not a problem. But our actions are more effective in the dressing room. That’s where the game can be shaped.”

Without the flair of Rayan Cherki, the goals of Mikautadze, or the spark of Thiago Almada, Lyon have had to reinvent themselves. The solution has been collective effort and the emergence of new figures.

For example, Tanner Tessmann has grown into a dominant midfield presence, once considered a utility option but now central to OL’s play, scoring the decisive winner against Angers and showing the personality to lead by example. Up front, Martin Satriano, on loan from Lens, is beginning to offer the focal point Lyon so badly needs; after a quiet first half on Friday, he was instrumental in Tessmann’s goal and struck the post minutes later.

The Numbers That Matter:

12 points in 5 games: Lyon’s best start since 2022/23.
Four clean sheets in five: built on defensive resilience and collective pressing.
Two 1-0 wins in September: proof of a pragmatic side that can grind results when needed.

Tolisso, The Captain at the Core

If Lyon’s revival has been defined by new heroes, it has also been anchored by an old one. Corentin Tolisso, restored as captain, has emerged as the steadying presence in Fonseca’s evolving side. His leadership has been vital both on and off the pitch — setting the tone in the dressing room during the coach’s suspension, and providing balance in midfield when Lyon’s attacking options have been limited. No longer just the academy graduate who returned home, Tolisso has become the bridge between a squad in transition and a coach with ambitious ideas.

Of course, the shadow of PSG looms large. The champions’ firepower, depth, and experience make them overwhelming favourites for a fourth straight Ligue 1 title. But Lyon’s current start has already exceeded expectations.

Fonseca’s side have shown they can win ugly, respond to adversity, and lean on unexpected leaders when stars are absent. The return of attacking reinforcements in the winter, plus the Europa League challenge, will test the squad’s depth, but OL have already shown a resourcefulness many doubted existed.

“We’ve started well,” Tessmann smiled after Angers. “If we continue like this, we have a big chance.