DERBY OF DESPERATION: STRUGGLING ST. ETIENNE FACE RESURGENT LYON IN CRUCIAL RHÔNE-ALPES CLASH

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April 20, 2025

ST. Etienne - Lyon

The Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium will crackle with tension this Sunday as two bitter rivals at opposite ends of the form table collide in the 125th edition of one of France's most storied derbies. While St. Etienne fight for their Ligue 1 survival, Lyon arrive with renewed confidence, creating the perfect backdrop for a potentially explosive encounter.

Few regional rivalries in European football can match the intensity of St. Etienne versus Lyon. The historic Rhône-Alpes derby has seen Les Verts claim 43 victories against Lyon's 47, with 34 draws completing the balance sheet across all competitions. For Lyon, this fixture has particular defensive significance – they've kept 41 clean sheets against St. Etienne, more than against any other opponent in their history.

The momentum heading into Sunday's clash clearly favors the visitors. Lyon have emerged as one of Ligue 1's form teams since Paulo Fonseca took charge in early February, scoring at least two goals in each of their last 10 league matches. This remarkable offensive consistency equals their best-ever such runs from 1981 and 2018, underscoring the dramatic impact the Portuguese tactician has made.

"The team has embraced our philosophy quicker than I expected," Fonseca told reporters at his pre-match press conference. "But we understand what this match means beyond just the three points. This is about regional pride and giving our supporters something special to celebrate."

Lyon's resurgence has been particularly evident on their travels, winning three of their last four away league fixtures – matching their total from the previous 11 road games this season. Their historical record at the Geoffroy-Guichard provides further encouragement, having won 11 of their 18 visits to St. Etienne in the 21st century. No team has beaten Les Verts more frequently at their home fortress during this period.

For the hosts, the situation appears increasingly desperate. St. Etienne have accumulated just 24 points from 29 games – their lowest total at this stage of a season in the three-points-for-a-win era. Defensively, they've been nothing short of calamitous, conceding 67 goals already, matching their worst defensive record after 29 games set way back in the 1946-47 campaign.

Most alarmingly, Les Verts have conceded at least three goals in each of their last four Ligue 1 matches, establishing an unwanted club record. This represents the worst defensive sequence by any top-flight French club since Brest in 1980, with only CA Paris (1933) and Racing (1960) ever enduring longer such runs (5) in Ligue 1 history.

"We understand the gravity of our situation," admitted St. Etienne manager Olivier Dall'Oglio. "But the derby provides its own motivation. Form goes out the window in these matches, and our supporters deserve a performance that honors the badge and the history of this club."

Individual errors have plagued St. Etienne's campaign, with defender Mickaël Nadé making four mistakes leading directly to opposition goals – the highest figure for any player in Ligue 1 this season. Addressing these lapses in concentration will be crucial against a Lyon attack that has scored 30 goals in the final 30 minutes of matches this season, more than any other team in the league.

In stark contrast, St. Etienne have managed just nine goals in the closing stages of matches, with only Reims (7) proving less productive during this period. This disparity in late-game effectiveness could prove decisive in a derby where tensions typically escalate as the clock ticks down.

One curious similarity between the fierce rivals is their struggle in physical confrontations. St. Etienne (47%) and Lyon (48.3%) rank alongside Lens (48%) as the three teams with the lowest percentage of duels won in Ligue 1 this season, suggesting Sunday's battle could be won in the technical rather than physical aspects of the game.

The match holds particular significance for Lyon midfielder Corentin Tolisso, who stands to make his 200th Ligue 1 appearance – all for Les Gones – if selected on Sunday. The former Bayern Munich star has enjoyed a renaissance in 2025, contributing eight goal involvements (5 goals, 3 assists) – matching his combined total from 2023 and 2024.

As St. Etienne battle to avoid relegation and Lyon push for European qualification, Sunday's derby promises intensity, drama and perhaps the unexpected twists that have characterized this historic rivalry for generations.

We thank OPTA for providing the statistical data. Photo: source XYZ