Senegal international and Olympique Lyon captain Moussa Niakhaté has moved to calm growing excitement over a potential Ligue 1 title push, insisting his side are not focused on the championship despite a dramatic twist at the top of the table.
Lyon’s shock victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday has thrown the French title race wide open, with six teams still mathematically capable of winning the league.
Lens, Lyon, Lille, Rennes, Marseille and PSG remain in contention with four matches left, setting up one of the tightest finishes in recent seasons.
The result at the Parc des Princes has also given renewed hope to other challengers, particularly Lens, who are still pushing at the top end of the standings.
However, speaking after the match, Niakhaté was quick to dismiss any suggestion that Lyon are thinking about lifting the Ligue 1 trophy.
“How to put it politely… I’m not interested! Good for them, for Lens rather, but for us, it’s not our fight,” he said in the mixed zone on Sunday evening.
His comments reflect a controlled approach within the Lyon camp, despite the club’s sudden rise into third place.
Paulo Fonseca’s side are now level on points with Lille and firmly in the race for Champions League qualification, which remains their primary objective.
The win over PSG marked another step forward for Lyon following what had been described as a difficult previous campaign.
The improvement has been steady rather than spectacular, with emphasis placed on rebuilding consistency and securing European football rather than chasing unlikely silverware.
Across Ligue 1, however, the landscape remains highly volatile.
PSG are expected to play their rescheduled match against Nantes this week, a fixture that could again reshape the top of the table depending on the outcome.
Nantes themselves are fighting to avoid relegation, adding further pressure to an already congested schedule.
For Lyon, the focus remains firmly on securing a top-three finish, with Champions League qualification seen as the realistic reward for their progress this season.
