Should Lyon advance past Sparta Prague tonight (9 PM) and then overcome either Fenerbahçe or Sturm Graz in the playoffs on August 18-19 and 25-26, the path to Europe’s elite competition could finally open up. The last time Lyon reached the Champions League group stage via the playoffs, in August 2009, they dismantled Anderlecht in style (5-1, 3-1).

The weight of history: three summers of European frustration

But before dreaming of distant European nights, Lyon must first shake off the ghosts of three painful summer eliminations. These setbacks, all occurring in August, have left their mark on the club’s recent history. While the first two were disappointing, the third remains a particularly bitter memory.

August 1999: humiliation against Maribor

Fresh off an eye-catching transfer coup that brought Brazilian striker Sonny Anderson from FC Barcelona for 125 million French francs (18 million euros)—a record at the time—Lyon entered the Champions League for the first time in their history. Yet their debut was nothing short of catastrophic. Under manager Bernard Lacombe, Lyon suffered a 0-1 home defeat to NK Maribor in the first leg of the third qualifying round on August 10, 1999. A late Filipovic goal (89th minute) sealed their fate, despite Lyon dominating proceedings.

The return leg in Slovenia on August 25 was even more humiliating. Lyon fell 0-2, with goals from Simundza (24th) and Balajic (45th), exposing their shocking lack of composure. The side that day featured stars like Sonny Anderson, Tony Vairelles, Alain Caveglia, Vikash Dhorasoo, and Grégory Coupet. The next day’s headlines in the French press read: « Lyon, the summer flop ».

Relegated to the UEFA Cup, Lyon were soon eliminated in the round of 16 by Werder Bremen (3-0, 0-4), after earlier overcoming HJK Helsinki (5-1, 1-0) and Celtic Glasgow (1-0, 1-0). In Ligue 1, Lyon finished third once again in May 2000, while also falling in the quarterfinals of both the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue.

August 2013: Griezmann’s revenge

Fourteen years later, Lyon had evolved into a far more formidable side. By August 2013, the club had claimed seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles (2002-2008) and reached the Champions League semifinals in 2010, where they were eliminated by Bayern Munich (0-1, 0-3). Yet even this accomplished side fell victim to an August setback.

After dispatching Grasshopper Zurich in the third qualifying round (1-0, 1-0), Lyon faced Real Sociedad in the playoffs. The French side had previously deemed Antoine Griezmann too frail for their youth academy. The French forward had the last laugh. In the first leg at home on August 20, Griezmann opened the scoring with a stunning left-footed volley (17th minute), a goal that made headlines nationwide. Real Sociedad went on to win 2-0, with Seferovic adding a second (49th). The return leg in Anoeta on August 28 saw Lyon crushed again, 0-2, by a Carlos Vela brace (67th, 90+1).

Redirected to the Europa League, Lyon reached the quarterfinals before falling to Juventus Turin (0-1, 1-2). That season, Lyon finished fifth in Ligue 1, were eliminated in the Round of 16 of the Coupe de France, and lost the Coupe de la Ligue final to Paris Saint-Germain (1-2).

August 2014: the ultimate embarrassment against Astra Giurgiu

The most painful of these three summer failures came in August 2014, when Lyon were stunned by Romanian minnows Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League playoffs. Despite a 1-0 away win in the second leg on August 28—thanks to a Jordan Ferri strike (23rd)—the damage had already been done. In the first leg at home on August 21, Lyon had squandered a 1-0 lead, conceded two goals (Fatai 71st, Budescu 81st penalty), and suffered a 1-2 defeat.

That squad, which also featured Corentin Tolisso, Christophe Jallet, and Maxime Gonalons, recovered to finish second in Ligue 1 in May 2015, securing their return to the Champions League. But the memory of that disastrous summer of 2014—the most humiliating of the three—had abruptly ended eighteen consecutive seasons of European football for Lyon.