Lyon Sacks Coach Despite Putting Club Back on Track 

Lyon's French coach Pierre Sage looks on before the start of the UEFA Europa League, league phase football match between Fenerbahce and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on January 23, 2025. (AFP)
Lyon's French coach Pierre Sage looks on before the start of the UEFA Europa League, league phase football match between Fenerbahce and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on January 23, 2025. (AFP)
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Lyon Sacks Coach Despite Putting Club Back on Track 

Lyon's French coach Pierre Sage looks on before the start of the UEFA Europa League, league phase football match between Fenerbahce and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on January 23, 2025. (AFP)
Lyon's French coach Pierre Sage looks on before the start of the UEFA Europa League, league phase football match between Fenerbahce and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium in Istanbul on January 23, 2025. (AFP)

Lyon coach Pierre Sage has been fired, the French league club said on Tuesday.

His dismissal followed a 1-1 draw with Nantes over the weekend and left some observers baffled. Sage had rapidly become a fans’ favorite after guiding Lyon from the bottom of the standings to a sixth-place finish last season.

And after 19 matches this season, Lyon is sixth in the league, just four points off a Champions League spot.

Lyon, however, said the decision to part ways with Sage was a “sporting choice.” Lyon is owned by American businessman John Textor, who visited the club in person this week.

The seven-time French champions added that his firing “does not call into question the tremendous work carried out at the beginning of 2024, for which Olympique Lyonnais will always be grateful to Pierre Sage and his team.”



Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr Draws at Persepolis in Last AFC Champions League Group Game 

Serdar Durban of Persepolis (L) and Mohammed Al Fatil of Al-Nassr (C) in action during the AFC Champions League match Persepolis FC against Al-Nassr FC, in Tehran, Iran, 17 February 2025. (EPA) 
Serdar Durban of Persepolis (L) and Mohammed Al Fatil of Al-Nassr (C) in action during the AFC Champions League match Persepolis FC against Al-Nassr FC, in Tehran, Iran, 17 February 2025. (EPA) 
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Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr Draws at Persepolis in Last AFC Champions League Group Game 

Serdar Durban of Persepolis (L) and Mohammed Al Fatil of Al-Nassr (C) in action during the AFC Champions League match Persepolis FC against Al-Nassr FC, in Tehran, Iran, 17 February 2025. (EPA) 
Serdar Durban of Persepolis (L) and Mohammed Al Fatil of Al-Nassr (C) in action during the AFC Champions League match Persepolis FC against Al-Nassr FC, in Tehran, Iran, 17 February 2025. (EPA) 

After leaving Cristiano Ronaldo at home, Al-Nassr drew 0-0 away against Iranian club Persepolis on Monday in the last round of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage.

The Saudi Arabian team had already secured a place in the round of 16 of the continental competition and coach Stefano Pioli took a weakened team to Tehran.

Al-Nassr finished third in the West group behind fellow Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal. The top eight advance from each of the two 12-team groups, divided into eastern and western geographic zones.

Al-Ahli beat Al-Gharafa of Qatar 4-2 with former Premier League players Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino all scoring, along with Brazilian winger Galeno.

Also, Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan defeated Qatar’s Al-Sadd 2-1 to move into the second round.