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 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 holds significance in French football as a rivalry between two historically dominant clubs. Both Lyon and Marseille, along with Saint-Étienne and Paris Saint-Germain, are the only French clubs to have won the first division four straight times, with Marseille doing so on two occasions. The rivalry is comparable to the Borussen Derby between Borussia Mönchengladbach and Borussia Dortmund 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 Ligue 1 history with 2.93 million viewers. Unlike Le Classique, the rivalry has no bad blood and stems from competitiveness among players, managers, supporters, and presidential hierarchy. The French broadcaster Canal+ has referred to the match as the 'Olympico', a name that has gained popularity among fans and media.

Did You Know?

• The rivalry is also known as the 'Olympico', a term coined by Canal+ in reference to El Clásico.
• Marseille and Lyon are two of only four French clubs to have won the first division four straight times.
• The 8–0 Lyon win on 24 May 1997 remains Lyon's biggest league victory.
• The match on 17 May 2009 drew 2.93 million viewers, the most watched in Ligue 1 history.