Olympique Lyonnais faces FC St. Gallen in a friendly on July 11

Olympique Lyonnais will kick off its pre‑season on July 11 by hosting FC St. Gallen at Décines, a first test before the official start on July 8 against Mâcon 71. The French club will only be playing its second preparation match, while the Swiss side arrives already warmed up after four fixtures.

Why is FC St. Gallen already in shape?

FC St. Gallen resumed training on June 24 and has already played two wins : 3‑2 over SCR Altach (without Mohamed Ouédraogo) and 1‑0 against FC Winterthur. The previous Saturday they added two 45‑minute games against FC Vaduz and SC Austria Lustenau. These matches are meant to fine‑tune tactics before the second‑round Europa League qualifiers against Benfica on July 23 and 30, leaving the Swiss club noticeably sharper than the Rhodaniens.

What does Olympique Lyonnais expect from this test?

For OL, the game against St. Gallen is a chance to gauge the level of new signings and test the coach’s formations before the official season launch. The club currently sits 4th in Ligue 1 with 60 points, 18 wins, 6 draws and 10 losses, showing recent form LLWWW. With 53 goals scored and 40 conceded (+13 goal difference), the side aims to tighten its defence ahead of the European challenge.

What are the stakes moving forward?

After the July 11 fixture, Olympique Lyonnais will face the reigning French champions in its first real season test. The performance against St. Gallen could influence lineup decisions and squad confidence. Meanwhile, FC St. Gallen hopes to keep its momentum for the Benfica clash, a formidable opponent that could open the door to the Europa Conference League.

The broader season context

At the moment, Olympique Lyonnais sits 16 points behind leaders Paris Saint‑Germain, a gap that makes every point vital. The friendly does not affect the standings, but it offers a glimpse of physical and tactical readiness before Ligue 1 kicks off. Fans are eager to see how young talents like Alexandre Lacazette and new arrivals will fit into the coach’s system.

In short

The July 11 meeting at Décines will be a key moment to assess OL’s preparation against a well‑drilled opponent. FC St. Gallen, second in the Swiss league and cup winners, arrives with a preparation edge that could pressure the Lyonnais. The coming days will be decisive for fine‑tuning strategies before the official season start.