Choc des Olympiques

Lore & Background

The first meeting between the two sides was played on 23 September 1945 and ended in a 1–1 draw. Following Jean-Michel Aulas's acquisition of Olympique Lyonnais in 1987, the rivalry entered a more competitive environment. In 1989, Marseille began an impressive streak of five consecutive French league titles, though the fifth and final title was stripped due to the Bernard Tapie scandal, which saw the club relegated to the second division. Marseille also won the 1993 edition of the European Cup. One notable match during the streak was a 7–0 thrashing of Lyon by Marseille during the 1990–91 season.

Following Marseille's relegation to the second division and eventual return, Lyon got revenge during the 1996–97 season hammering Marseille 8–0 at the Stade de Gerland with all of their goals coming inside 55 minutes. The win remains Lyon's biggest league victory. Lyon eventually began to ascend the French football ladder and, at the start of the new millennium, began a streak of seven consecutive French league titles, easily surpassing Marseille's streak of four. During Lyon's national record-breaking streak, Marseille finished runner-up only once, during the 2006–07 season.

Reader's Guide

The Choc des Olympiques is significant because both clubs are among the only French clubs to have won the French first division four straight times, with Marseille doing it on two occasions. The rivalry is often cited as particularly important because the championship is regularly decided between the two. The French major football broadcaster Canal+ has referred to the match as the 'Olympico', in reference to El Clásico, a name that has gained in popularity among fans and the media. The rivalry is also comparable with that between Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund, known as the 'Borussen Derby' in Germany. Notable matches include Marseille's 7–0 win in 1991, Lyon's 8–0 revenge in 1997, and the 5–5 draw in 2009. The match on 17 May 2009 became the most watched in the history of Ligue 1, with 2.93 million viewers.

Did You Know?

• The 8–0 win by Lyon on 24 May 1997 remains Lyon's biggest league victory.
• The match on 17 May 2009 became the most watched in Ligue 1 history, with 2.93 million viewers.
• The rivalry is also known as the 'Olympico', a name popularized by broadcaster Canal+.