The 2008–09 season proved to be much more positive for the Kinshasa-born forward. With the arrival of no less than four attacking reinforcements (Ludovic Giuly, Guillaume Hoarau, Stéphane Sessègnon and Mateja Kežman) in the summer, Luyindula lost his spot in the starting line-up. However, he was often used as a supersub, especially in UEFA Cup games, and appeared to play better without the pressure of being an automatic starter. He scored twice in a 4–0 win over Dutch club FC Twente in December 2008, which qualified the Parisian club for the following round of the UEFA Cup.