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