Olympique Lyonnais – Stade Rennais: Lyon Land Significant Blow In Champions League Race (4-2)

Fourth hosted fifth in a match that would ensure that no matter what, one of Olympique Lyonnais or Stade Rennais would end the weekend in third. The Champions League race is heating up in France, and it was Lyon who would land a significant blow on their direct rivals with a stunning comeback win. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

Olympique Lyonnais had one hand on the podium coming into this game and with it a return to the Champions League and all the riches that come with it. For a team that spent much of the summer wondering whether they would retain their position in Ligue 1 and spent the rest of it operating under a new austere budget, this has been a season to pierce the gloom and promise a brighter future. 

Stade Rennais would hope to put a dampener on that. A victory at the Groupama Stadium would be enough for Rennes to leapfrog their European rivals. Under midseason appointment Franck Haise, Rennes have rallied to make one final push for Champions League qualification. Not bad for a manager who, in December, had looked burned out by his experience with OGC Nice.

Paulo Fonseca went with a 4-2-3-1 shape. Dominik Greif was in goal with a backline composed of Abner Vinícius, Moussa Niakhaté, Clinton Mata, and Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The double pivot was the captain, Corentin Tolisso, and Tyler Morton. Ahead of them was Khalis Merah in the number ten role, with Afonso Moreira and Endrick on the wings. Up front was left . . .