Saint-Etienne eagerly anticipates the arrival of Lyon for one of the most intense derbies in Ligue 1. As the 13th matchday approaches, the inhabitants of the Rhone region make their way to Geoffroy-Guichard to face the challenge posed by the Greens. It’s worth noting that Geoffroy-Guichard has been a favorable ground for Lyon in recent years, as they haven’t suffered a defeat in a derby held there since 1994. The Gones boast an impressive record with six consecutive victories on Stéphanois turf. Lyon, currently rejuvenated, has had a rollercoaster start to the season, standing 12th in the standings. They managed to break a six-game winless streak by securing a victory against Guingamp in their previous match at Gerland.
“In challenging times, we found ourselves in a tough spot. To overcome it, we had to regroup and return to the basics. This required a collective realization. The cohesiveness of the group is vital; we recognized our dependence on each other and the need for unity. While other teams may approach it differently, we cannot afford to falter on this aspect,” explains Gueïda Fofana in an interview with 10 Sport.
However, when discussing their future plans, the Lyon midfielder adopts a more cautious stance. “Considering where we started the season, it would be overly ambitious to talk about aiming for the top of the table. Presently, we won’t prematurely discuss aiming for the podium again. We were a struggling entity, and our focus is on recovery. Let’s assess our position before the final sprint.”
