Maitland-Niles and Mata in front of Del Castillo (Brest) (Photo by DAMIEN MEYER / AFP)
Overall performing well defensively this season, OL were unable to count on this strong point in the final stretch. Between the mishaps, the individual errors and the lack of aggressiveness, he was unable to close the shop when necessary.
Throughout the season, Paulo Fonseca repeated that the big difference with 2024-2025 is that this time he had had time to prepare with his group. Particularly in the summer of 2025. And that counted, particularly on the defensive aspect. “Work is an incredible thing (smile). We had six weeks to refine that. I know that the staff worked a lot during the holidays to analyze why we were so leaky, why we were conceding so many goals. And they shared their opinions and findings with us as soon as we returned to preparationMoussa told us Finallyé last October. So, we really worked a lot, with a lot of rehearsals.”
The efforts paid off, as OL finished the year with the 4th best rearguard in Ligue 1 (40 goals conceded). Its most favorable total, excluding 2019-2020 (during the Covid shutdown), since 2014-2015. He has achieved 15 clean sheets in 34 days, only PSG surpasses him at this level (18). A sign of real solidity that we particularly found by period, between August and September (3 achievements collected in 8 posters) and from the end of November to mid-March.
But in the final straight, this sector of the game has largely deteriorated. With the culmination of this terrible 4-0 against Lens to conclude 2025-2026. A real shipwreck of which we had already had a small glimpse in Toulouse a week earlier (2-1). On these two parties which weigh very negatively in Lyon’s results, we noted a lack of intensity in the duels, placement errors, dilettantism and an outdated organization.
Maitland-Niles, the too easy scapegoat?
The right flank in particular suffered in these two matches, and even before, against Rennes (4-2). And inevitably in these cases, a man is in the eye of the storm. “Ainsley Maitland-Niles Right now, it’s a weak link. All opposing phases of play that passed through his side were decisives, observed our consultant Nicolas Puydebois In TKYDG. We know that he hasn’t been performing well lately. His attitude is inappropriate. It’s enough.”
The Englishman, as we know, can be lax on the pitch. But there, he clearly did not display the necessary aggression, and above all, he forgot himself in his marking. But the old Gunner was also not helped by his teammates. How many times has he found himself outnumbered in his lane, having to defend against two or even three opponents? The other formations are not stupid, they have clearly identified that this is where they need to support.
The Lyon bloc has disintegrated
We come back to this team block which was much less efficient at the end. “It’s collective at this level. Every attack was an opportunity to score”résumait Enzo Realformé à Tola-Vologe. Son compère le rejoint. “You can point the finger at them all one by one, but it’s collectively that there was a failure.” And not just a little, with 10 goals conceded in the last 4 outings.
It is rather surprising to note that OL have largely shattered in this area. It was much more permeable, sometimes even without suffering a lot of chances (we think of the duels against Stade Rennais and Auxerre). “Defense is highlighted here, but if your midfielder is failing and the attackers are not defending… We are going to hit them, but they are dependent on what is happening higher up. The waves come back tirelessly”, insisted Nicolas Puydebois.
This will clearly be a point to review from June 29, the date of the resumption. With new players? Possibly because the club is aware of the shortage in the full-back positions. There will therefore very probably be upheavals behind, to see what the impact of the transfer window will be on the Rhone rearguard for 2026-2027 after an overall positive growth at this level.
