At first glance, Lyon endured a harrowing 2023/24 campaign. After all, the club went through three managers in total and failed to win any of their first 10 Ligue 1 matches.
They didn’t achieve their first win since November 12th, when they secured a nervy 1-0 victory at Rennes. It was barely two weeks later than Pierre Sage took over as head coach on an interim basis, and his arrival heralded an uptick in fortunes that lifted Lyon off the bottom of the table.
He’s now formally Lyon’s head coach, and has overseen a summer transfer spend that has even exceeded PSG’s. But will this lead to a success and brave new dawn for the Gones?
Lyon’s Season Recovery and Summer Spend
After being appointed as head coach on November 30th, Sage won 15 of his 22 Ligue 1 outings (68%) and lost on just six occasions.
They also finished the season as the competition’s in form team winning eight and losing just one of their final 10 matches and taking 25 points from the 30 available to them.
So, it made perfect sense to make Sage the team’s head coach on a permanent basis, while the 45-year-old has since looked to make his mark on the transfer market. To this end, Lyon have purchased eight players for a combined total of €134.29 million, making them the league’s biggest spenders (even ahead of PSG).
Two particular moves have seen Lyon capture Nottingham Forest duo Moussa Niakhaté and Orel Mangala for a total of €55.30 million. These two will add genuine physicality and strength to Lyon’s defence and midfield, improving two areas that appeared weak for periods of the 2023/24 campaign.
The talented and enigmatic winger Saïd Benrahma has also joined from West Ham in a cut-price €14.40 million deal. He boasts exceptional individual skill, and may thrive in the slightly slower and less intense pace of Ligue 1.
Boosting the Attack – Adding to Lyon’s Firepower
Lyon only scored 49 goals in 34 league matches last season, at a rate of 1.44 per game. So, this is a key area that Sage has looked to address, primarily through the signing of the bustling, 23-year-old forward Georges Mikautadze from FC Metz.
Mikautadze was the joint-top scorer at Euro 2024 with three goals (in just four matches too), while he also contributed 14 goals in just 22 appearances for Metz during their 2023/24 season.
Sage has also moved to sign 28-year-old Troyes striker Mama Baldé for a cut-price €6 million. Although he only scored twice on loan in 23 games for Lyon last season, he boasts considerable pace and strength and will add an exciting dimension to the Gones’ attack.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re a sports betting fan or like to play poker with GG Poker, you may not want to bet on Lyon to win the Ligue 1 title next season.
This is despite a €134.29 million outlay and €-110.04m net spend, which was required simply to strengthen key areas and consolidate last season’s sixth place finish.
However, Lyon do offer value as an outside punt for another top six and potentially a top four finish next season, particularly if Mikautadze continues his excellent form and momentum. Of course, the pressure will also be on Sage to deliver, as his performance in 2023/24 and subsequent net spend will be expected to produce results.