Malick Fofana made his return to the Lyon group after a knee sprain contracted during the match against Le Havre, and presented himself as a valuable option for Paulo Fonseca. The young Belgian winger, whose return to collective training was encouraging, is likely to be available for the crucial match against Manchester United in the Europa League, as well as for the derby against AS Saint-Étienne. His prolonged absence was felt, and his return to the game coincided with a pivotal period for Olympique Lyonnais, notably due to the serious injury of Ernest Nuamah.

The presence of Fofana is an undeniable asset for the team, providing an ability to destabilize the opposing defences through deep races and offensive verticality. The return match against Manchester United, where OL got an encouraging result (2-2) during the round-up match, presents itself as an opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the team. Although he has not yet played an official game since his injury, Fofana’s striking profile could convince Paulo Fonseca to integrate him into the device, potentially as a strategic replacement, against a often vulnerable mancunian defense on the wings.

Despite uncertainty about his time playing against Manchester United, Fofana is expected to be fully operational for the derby against AS Saint-Étienne. This match, crucial for OL’s European ambitions and the fight for the maintenance of ASSE, offers Lyon a formidable weapon. Fofana’s presence, faced with a stéphanois defence often in difficulty, could be decisive, and will face Dennis Appiah, who had briefly been confronted with him in the game-go.