Olympique Lyonnais are preparing to face Angers on the ninth day of Ligue1, and coach Paulo Fonseca received two positive news which could give him hope. After a 2-0 defeat against Paris Saint-Germain, the Lyonnais are faced with a series of injuries which have reduced their available squad. Nevertheless, the week brought a breath of optimism thanks to the return of at least two key players to collective training.
On Wednesday, Danish midfielder MadsBidstrup, who had been absent for several weeks due to a knee injury, returned to training. Although he has not yet been officially declared available, his return to training indicates rapid progress towards returning to competition. Likewise, Argentinian left-back NicolásTagliafico, initially scheduled to be on leave for around three weeks, is also present on the field. His early return suggests he overcame his injury sooner than expected.
These two returns come at a time when OL must deal with a limited squad. Fonseca, who had to face a deficit of available players, sees in the presence of Bidstrup and Tagliafico a potential reinforcement for the meeting against Angers, scheduled for 5:15 p.m. on Sunday. Although their final participation remains to be confirmed, their presence in collective training is a reassuring signal for the coach.
After the defeat against PSG, the Lyon team is looking to regain victory in front of its supporters. The returns of Tagliafico and Bidstrup could give Fonseca more tactical choices and strengthen the defense as well as the midfield. The club hopes these players will be fit enough to be selected for Sunday's match, which could improve Lyon's chances of returning to the field and regaining control of the season.
In summary, as Lyon continue to battle a series of injuries, the potential return of two key players offers a glimmer of hope. If Bidstrup and Tagliafico are ready for the match against Angers, they could play a key role in OL's attempt to break their losing streak and regain confidence on the court.