Match of the Week: Financial head-to-head Olympique Lyon vs Olympique de Marseille

Fierce rivalry, modern finances. Marseille brings the bigger engine and pricier assets; Lyon brings the heavier wage load.

Marseille’s squad valuation has climbed steadily during the past two years while Lyon’s has declined since winter. Transfer tempo flipped, with Marseille going hard last year; both have tightened the tap so far this window.

Why it matters: It’s the first hard read on last season’s spending versus this summer’s restraint.

The perspective: It’s a Ligue 1 stress test under stricter cost controls and uncertain media money. How these two deploy capital will shape how French clubs price talent, pace spending, and sell the league’s competitiveness in Europe.