Olympique Lyonnais marked their return to action with a 5-2 victory in a friendly against Mâcon, a club playing in France’s National 2 division, on Wednesday morning.
The match saw Paulo Fonseca field two entirely different starting elevens, providing playing time for the entire Lyon squad. Striker Rémi Himbert was the standout performer, scoring a hat-trick to contribute significantly to the win.
Notably, Lyon’s three new signings all featured in the match: Danish midfielder Anders Bidstrup, Burkina Faso defender Orelien Ouédraogo, and Belgian winger Gift Orban, known as Duranville. Their inclusion signals the beginning of Lyon’s recruitment drive ahead of the upcoming season.
Lyon have a series of friendlies scheduled in the coming weeks as they prepare for their Champions League campaign. They will host Servette FC on July 15th before travelling to Seville to face Betis on July 28th. The club is aiming to prepare thoroughly for their Champions League third qualifying round match on August 4th.
The French League (LFP) recently denied Lyon’s request to postpone their first league match of the season, indicating a firm schedule ahead. The club is looking to mount a strong challenge for the Ligue 1 title this season, after finishing seventh last term.
The win over Mâcon provides an encouraging start to pre-season, and the integration of new players will be crucial as Fonseca looks to build a competitive squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts.
