FC St. Gallen will play a closed friendly against Olympique Lyon on July 23 to sharpen up before the Super League 2026/27 kickoff. The match takes place at Lyon's training ground and will be streamed live on tagblatt.ch.

What does the friendly mean for St. Gallen?

The game gives the Swiss cup winner a chance to test its recent form. Currently FC St. Gallen sit second in the Super League with 60 points, 17 wins, 9 draws and 7 losses from 33 games. The side has scored 64 goals and conceded 40, a +24 goal difference. They remain 14 points behind leaders FC Thun.

Which players are under the spotlight?

Coach Peter Zeidler will focus on his attacking line, which has delivered most of the team's goals lately. Striker Milan Škriniar and winger Nicolas Bürgi are expected to feature heavily after a string of recent strikes. Opposing Lyon will field national team left‑back Nicolás Tagliafico, who also plays in the World Cup quarter‑final for Argentina on the same night.

Why choose Lyon as the opponent?

Olympique Lyon finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season and are fighting for a Champions League spot. Despite recent financial hiccups, the club remains a strong test, especially given its renowned academy that produced talents like Karim Benzema. For St. Gallen, facing a technically adept side that excels in both men's and women's European competitions offers valuable preparation.

What can fans expect?

Although the match is played behind closed doors, supporters can watch the live stream for a rare look at Zeidler's tactics. The friendly also serves as a warm‑up for the upcoming first‑leg Europa Cup tie against Benfica Lisbon, scheduled just three days later. Combining the Lyon test with the Benfica fixture should fine‑tune the squad for European competition.

What comes after the test?

After the friendly, St. Gallen returns to Switzerland to gear up for the league opener on July 26 against FC Zürich. The tight schedule leaves little recovery time, but the coaching staff hopes the insights gained will stabilise the team's form and aid the push in the title race.