Lyon vs Saint-Etienne: H2H, Watch Live, Derby Rhone-Alpes History & More
The Lyon vs Saint-Etienne rivalry was born in 1951 and has since become one of the most bitter in European football.
Much like other football rivalries it is a class war – Lyon is viewed as middle-class, while Saint-Etienne is unquestionably working-class.
We take a closer look at Lyon vs Saint-Etienne including the H2H (stats correct – April 4, 2023), how to watch Ligue 1 live, the history of Derby Rhones-Alpes and more.
Lyon vs Saint-Etienne H2H
The two sides have met on 124 previous occasions in competitive matches, with Lyon leading the H2H 46-44 and 34 draws.
However, Saint-Etienne have the advantage in terms of major silverware, winning 17 trophies against the 13 claimed by Lyon.
Notable Lyon vs Saint-Etienne Results
- Lyon 1-7 Saint-Etienne – Ligue 1 – October 1969
- Saint-Etienne 6-0 Lyon – Ligue 1 – March 1970
- Lyon 4-0 Saint-Etienne – Ligue 1 – April 2006
- Lyon 0-1 Saint-Etienne – Ligue 1 – September 2010
- Lyon 2-2 Saint-Etienne – Ligue 1 – April 2015
- Saint-Etienne 0-5 Lyon – Ligue 1 – November 2017
Lyon vs Saint-Etienne Live Streams
BT Sport is the home of Ligue 1 in the United Kingdom and broadcasts selected matches live from every matchday across its channels.
There are several ways to get the service, including direct from BT Sport or as part of subscription packages from Sky Sports.
If you are unfortunate enough to find a geo-blocked live stream, Virtual Private Network (VPN) technology is the best way to circumnavigate this issue.
One of the most reliable services is Express VPN, which can be downloaded to various devices including Android, iOS, Fire TV, PC, Mac and smart TVs.
Derby Rhone-Alpes History
Just over 30 miles separate Lyon and Saint-Etienne, making this a rivalry borne out of the desire for regional supremacy.
It is also a bitter class war. Lyon see themselves as the more cultured club, while Saint-Etienne is more associated with social struggle.
Saint-Etienne were the most successful club in France at one time, winning ten league titles and several other major trophies between 1957 and 1981.
However, Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain took over at the top of Ligue 1 to leave Saint-Etienne struggling to keep pace.
The jailing of long-serving president Roger Rocher sparked a downturn in their fortunes and they were relegated to Ligue 2 in 1984.
They won promotion two years later but have never come close to replicating their previous achievements and have had several other spells in the second tier.
Lyon’s fortunes have gone in reverse, with the club lording it over their rivals with seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles during the early part of the 21st century.
Given their fluctuating fortunes, meetings between the two sides have not been as regular as many other football rivalries around the world.
This has increased the intensity of the Derby Rhone-Alpes, creating a unique atmosphere both on and off the pitch.
Lyon vs Saint-Etienne Controversies
As with most derby games, the Lyon vs Saint-Etienne fixture has been littered with controversies throughout its history.
Tensions often run high in the stands, a point evidenced by running battles between the two sets of supporters during a match in 1993.
The hatred is equally evident on the pitch, with no love lost between the respective players or coaching staff on each side of the divide.
Previous issues between the two teams led to a Derby Rhone-Alpes in 2013 being played behind closed doors, but that did not stop it from being fiery.
Lyon’s goalkeeping coach at the time, Joel Bats, tied a scarf to the netting in front of the stand where the Saint-Etienne ultras usually sat.
This did not go down well with Saint-Etienne, and there were numerous flashpoints during and after the match which resulted in several suspensions.
The return fixture was even more feisty, leading to further bans being handed down by Ligue 1 bosses.
One of the highest-profile controversies occurred in 2017 when Lyon’s Nabil Fekir sparked mayhem after celebrating a goal.
Fekir ran over to the Saint-Etienne fans after netting his second goal of the game, took off his shirt and jubilantly waved it in their direction.
Saint-Etienne fans went wild, with many of them invading the pitch. It took 20 minutes for riot police to restore order in the stadium.
Lyon fans later showed their appreciation of Fekir’s actions by creating a massive tifo depicting the infamous incident.
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