Olympique Lyonnais will not play in this season’s Champions League after losing 2-1 to Fenerbahçe in the play-off round return leg, going down 3-2 on aggregate. The result confirms Lyon’s participation in the Europa League instead, joining fellow French club Rennes in Europe’s second-tier competition.
How did Lyon lose despite controlling the match?
Lyon dominated large portions of the return fixture and looked the more threatening side for much of the night, but a brief defensive collapse proved decisive. Within a short span of a few minutes, the Gones conceded two goals that swung the tie in Fenerbahçe’s favor, undoing much of their earlier control and ultimately costing them the aggregate scoreline.
It was a matter of a few minutes that changed everything, despite our dominance on the pitch, sources close to the club said.
What does this mean for Lyon’s European campaign?
With Champions League qualification now out of reach, Lyon’s continental ambitions this season shift entirely to the Europa League. The club will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for a campaign in Europe’s secondary competition, a notable step down from the financial and prestige benefits that Champions League football would have provided.
Rennes, who also missed out on Champions League qualification, will accompany Lyon in the Europa League, giving French football two representatives in the competition this season. For Lyon, the defeat marks another disappointing chapter in their pursuit of a return to Europe’s premier club competition.
