Real Betis Lyon: Tessmann starts, Himbert leads line
Olympique Lyonnais has named its starting XI for the Real Betis Lyon friendly, with Tanner Tessmann in midfield and Himbert leading the line. Paulo Fonseca’s side faces Real Betis in its final summer warm-up before Champions League action against Sparta Prague, streaming live on OLPLAY.
Key Takeaways
- Tessmann starts and Himbert leads the attack in Lyon’s official XI versus Real Betis.
- The Trofeo Ciudad de La Línea clash is OL’s sixth and final preseason friendly.
- Kickoff is set for 20:00 local time, with coverage on OLPLAY and the club’s YouTube member zone.
- Openda, Merah, and Niakhaté did not travel; Nuamah is in the group and may see minutes.
- Fonseca’s side is seven days from its Champions League trip to Sparta Prague.
Who starts for Lyon against Real Betis?
According to Olympique & Lyonnais and MadeInFOOT, Paulo Fonseca selected: Greif; Maitland-Niles, Mata, Kluivert, Ouedraogo; Morton, Tessmann; Boudache, Tolisso, Duranville; Himbert.
That XI puts Tanner Tessmann in midfield and Himbert as the central striker for the Real Betis Lyon warm-up at Estadio Ciudad de La Línea, near Cádiz, after the squad arrived via Gibraltar.
MadeInFOOT reported the same eleven players in the official announcement posted by Olympique Lyonnais on social media for the Trofeo Ciudad de La Línea.
Why does this Real Betis Lyon lineup matter?
Olympique & Lyonnais notes Fonseca narrowed his squad with less than a week until the Champions League first leg at Sparta Prague. Large summer rotations are over; this is framed as a dress rehearsal close to a European starting group, despite a few absences.
OL will also debut its new third kit against Betis. For fans tracking Future Tech & AI Wonders coverage of how clubs use digital platforms, the match is streamed exclusively on OLPLAY and the Zone Membre YouTube channel.
Full reporting on the named XI is available from MadeInFOOT, which published Fonseca’s official composition on 29 July 2026.
Who is missing from the Olympique Lyonnais squad?
Loïs Openda did not travel and is expected to debut with his new teammates in Czechia. Khalis Merah, only just back in training, stayed behind. Moussa Niakhaté is also absent and suspended for the Champions League.
Bidstrup and Sulc remain unavailable. Ernest Nuamah, rested against Wolfsburg, is in the traveling party and could appear off the bench.
Vietnam.vn framed the fixture as a club friendly used to test shape and coordination rather than chase a result alone—consistent with Fonseca treating Real Betis as the last full-format rehearsal before Europe.