Before we face Olympique Lyon for the very first time in a competitive match this Thursday at 21:00 CEST, we've taken a closer look at just who we'll be facing. Here are seven facts to help you get to know the team and the city.

#1 | A unique run

Olympique Lyon made a name for itself in the early 2000s, when the club won the French championship seven times in succession from 2002 to 2008! They never won the league title before or since. No other club in France has achieved such a great run - AS Saint-Etienne, Olympique Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain have only managed four consecutive titles.

#2 | Influential names spanning a generation

Club legend Sidney Govou was the only player to win all seven league titles. This era also saw the emergence of stars like Karim Benzema and Juninho, arguably the best free-kick taker in football history (after Zlatko Junuzovic). Other well-known players such as Hugo Lloris, Nabil Fekir, Ferland Mendy and Alexandre Lacazette have also played for Lyon.

#3 | A relegation drama with big consequences

On June 24, Lyon were demoted to Ligue 2 for violating financial regulations, but their appeal was upheld in the second instance – and were therefore able to compete in the UEFA Europa League this season. This was bad news for FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, led by Oliver Glasner. Due to the "multi-club ownership" rule and its connection to Lyon, the English club was not allowed to compete in the UEFA Europa League, but had to make do with the UEFA Conference League.

#4 | A short travel guide

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The city, with just over half a million inhabitants (the catchment area has 2.3 million), has not only been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998, but is also the birthplace of cinema, home to Interpol, and is especially known for its cuisine – the Michelin Guide even calls Lyon the French capital of gastronomy.

#5 | Setting the pace in women's football

Lyon are pioneers in women's football. Not only are they currently ranked second in the UEFA club rankings, but they have also long been setting a continental benchmark with eight UEFA Women's Champions League titles (most recently in 2021/22). In the domestic game, OL also stand out as record champions.

#6 | From European Championship Stadium to European Championship Stadium

Just like us, our opponents are playing in a stadium built for a European Football Championship. The Groupama Stadium – or OL Stadium, as it's known in UEFA competitions – was built between 2013 and 2015 and served as a host venue for EURO 2016. With a capacity of almost 60,000 fans, it is the third-largest football stadium in France.

#7 | The boys from the neighbourhood

Olympique Lyon's nickname Les Gones comes from the local dialect of the Lyon region, where 'gone' means 'child' or 'boy.' The term has become a symbol of the club's strong local identity and its roots in the youth and culture of Lyon.

Read more about our clash with Olympique Lyon in our preview.

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Opposition analysis: 7 fascinating facts on Olympique Lyon