Olympique Lyonnais faced the Hamburger SV this Saturday at 3 p.m. as part of a friendly match that marked the beginning of their summer preparation. After two previous friendly matches focused on player rotation, coach Paulo Fonseca decided to form a more homogeneous team, bringing together experienced players and young talent. This decision, confirmed after the 0-0 draw against the RWDM Brussels, aims to prepare the team for the coming season by identifying a stronger standard team capable of maintaining a high level of play over 90 minutes. This Saturday’s game, which will take place over two 60-minute periods, is an important stage in this preparation, preceding a week of internship in Austria.

OL’s summer preparations were meticulously planned, starting with matches against National and Belgian second division teams. The team gradually faced more competitive opponents, culminating with this trip to Hamburg, a team from the first German division that was recently relegated. This friendly game, although unofficial, allows Paulo Fonseca to assess the physical condition and cohesion of the team, while testing new combinations of players. The goal is to advance in intensity and refine the game strategy before the official start of the championship.

This trip to Germany is also an opportunity for Paulo Fonseca to observe the progress of young players and gradually integrate new summer recruits, including Afonso Moreira and Ruben Kluivert. The coach stressed the importance of this preparation period to assess the team’s potential and identify players who can bring added value. Despite a small number due to recent transfers, OL can count on the presence of young talent from the Academy and the return of key players like Malick Fofana. The coach insists on the requirement and the need to improve the performance observed in previous matches, especially in terms of intensity and cleaning.