Lyon, France – Lyon joined Lille and Marseille in group play of the Champions League this week, as it finished off an aggregate win against Russian side Rubin, and hope to build off the performance domestically.
"It's a relief," new Lyon coach Remi Garde said, "and also satisfying to have qualified for the group stage of the Champions League."
With that important step secured, Lyon will turn its focus to France's Ligue 1 and an eighth title. The club won the last of seven straight in 2008, but will face a challenge to return to the top.
However, qualification for group play will provide a huge boost for the club - and not just financially.
"The club will certainly benefit economically from this qualification, but there isn't necessarily a link between this and whether we need to sign any new players or not," Garde said.
"We really showed our quality over the two legs but it also cost us a lot of energy."
Lyon is among seven teams unbeaten after three weeks in France, and with a win and two draws, already sits above Marseille (three draws) and Lille (a win and a draw).
Obviously the season has a long way to go, but Lyon can make another statement Saturday with a win against first-place Montpellier - the only perfect team in France.
Lille hosts Marseille on Sunday in a clash of the top-two clubs from last year that could give the winner an early mental edge in the title race. But a draw, and that would give Lyon the chance to open a gap on its top competition.
Toulouse sits second on seven points ahead of its match against free-spending PSG, which earned its first league win last weekend. St. Etienne, third in the standings on seven points, visits Sochaux on Sunday.
Also Saturday, Auxerre hosts Ajaccio, Evian hosts Dijon, Lorient hosts Nancy, Nice hosts Brest, and Valenciennes hosts Bordeaux. Also Sunday, Rennes hosts Caen.
