Can Lyon Win Ligue 1?
After finishing fourth last season, Lyon have strengthened Paulo Fonseca’s squad and return to 2026-27 with Champions League ambitions, but challenging Paris Saint-Germain remains an even bigger task.
Lyon enter the 2026-27 Ligue 1 season with reasons for optimism. After finishing fourth last year, the seven-time French champions have retained the core of their project, strengthened several areas of the squad and remain in contention for a place in the Champions League league phase.
The central figure remains Paulo Fonseca. The Portuguese coach, in charge since January 2025 and under contract until June 2027, confirmed before the end of last season that he intended to stay. Continuity could be important for a team that showed periods of excellent form but ultimately finished behind PSG, Lens and Lille.
Lyon Have Strengthened Their Squad
The summer has brought significant changes. The most eye-catching addition is Loïs Openda, who joined on a season-long loan from Juventus. The Belgian already knows Ligue 1 well after scoring 21 league goals for Lens during the 2022-23 season.
Lyon have also completed deals for Julien Duranville, Mads Bidstrup, Mohamed Ouédraogo and Austrian defender Felix Bacher, while Zachary Athekame arrived on loan until June 2027.
Just as importantly, captain Corentin Tolisso extended his contract until 2029, maintaining an experienced leader at the heart of Fonseca’s team.
There is also European football to consider. Lyon overturned a first-leg defeat against Sparta Prague with a 3-0 victory on August 11 to reach the Champions League play-off round, where Fenerbahçe stand between them and the league phase.
Can Lyon Really Challenge PSG?
That remains the difficult part.
PSG begin the season as overwhelming favorites after winning five consecutive Ligue 1 titles and back-to-back Champions League trophies. Their financial strength and squad depth give them an advantage that no French rival can easily match.
For Lyon, the first objective is likely to improve on fourth place and establish themselves among France’s leading Champions League contenders. If Openda rediscover his best Ligue 1 form and Fonseca can turn last season’s promising periods into greater consistency, the gap could narrow.
A first Ligue 1 title since 2008 would still represent a major upset. But this Lyon squad appears deeper, more settled and better equipped to compete.
Whether that is enough to challenge PSG over an entire season is the question they now have to answer.
