The 2011-12 campaign saw Les Lionceaux secure a vital 14th-place finish in Ligue 1, successfully stabilizing the club after a demanding European adventure. Spearheading the attack was the Malian forward Modibo Maïga, whose 9 league goals proved crucial in a season that highlighted the team's resilience. It was a challenging year that marked their continued presence in the French top flight, a status the historic club would soon fight to keep, cementing this season as a defining chapter of their modern era.