Lyon, managed by Paulo Fonseca, has formally requested the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) to postpone their first match of the season, scheduled for August 22 against Toulouse, according to French media. The club aims to ensure that the team is in the best possible condition for a potential UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff. The team, led by the Portuguese coach, resumed training on June 29, with the goal of preparing for the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Matches in this round are set for August 4 or 5 (first leg) and August 11 (second leg). If Lyon is successful, they will compete in the playoff for group stage access in the following two weeks. This is precisely why the club made the request, emphasizing that the postponement would only apply if the team qualifies for this decisive phase. The trip to Toulouse falls exactly between the two matches of a potential playoff. To justify their request, Lyon’s management cited the ‘greater interest of French football,’ a strategy similar to that used by PSG on several occasions last season. The LFP’s response is expected in the coming days.
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