Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League conflict between Lyon and Olympiacos, together with predictions, team information and doable lineups.
French aspect Lyon will hope to select up their first win of their Europa League marketing campaign once they host Conference League champions Olympiacos at Groupama Stadium on Thursday.
Both golf equipment will play eight video games as a part of the 36-team league part, and after these fixtures the highest eight sides will robotically progress to the spherical of 16, whereas the next 16 groups will compete in a playoff spherical to be able to earn the suitable to proceed within the competitors.
Match preview
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Lyon certified for the Europa League because of their sixth-positioned end in Ligue 1 final time period and beat Lens to the ultimate qualification spot by simply two factors.
The hosts final competed within the Europa League in 2021-22, and that season was additionally their most up-to-date marketing campaign in any European event.
Les Gones had been eradicated from the 2021-22 version of the competitors once they misplaced 4-1 on mixture towards West Ham United within the quarter-finals in April 2022.
To their credit score, Lyon's latest document within the Europa League is robust given they've received six, drawn three and misplaced solely one in every of their final 10 video games.
However, supervisor Pierre Sage has come below stress lately for his aspect's poor type, with the membership having misplaced 3 times, drawn as soon as and received simply as soon as of their 5 aggressive fixtures this season regardless of creating the fifth-most xG of any of the 18 prime-flight groups in Ligue 1.
Sage's team are 14th within the Ligue 1 desk with simply 4 factors from 5 video games, solely two factors above final-positioned Angers, and so they misplaced 3-2 final day out towards Marseille on September 22.
Lyon's house type can also be poor contemplating they've misplaced three of their 4 most up-to-date matches at Groupama Stadium, although they did win the prior 4 video games at house.
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Opponents Olympiacos completed third within the Greek Superleague's championship playoff group final season, and this may have certified them for the Europa League no matter their Conference League triumph.
The guests had been truly eradicated from the Europa League final time period after they completed third within the group stage however had been then transferred to the Conference League, a contest by which they received seven and drew two of their 9 matches.
En path to profitable the event, Olympiacos beat Unai Emery's Aston Villa 6-2 on mixture within the semi-last in May and Fiorentina 1-0 within the last on May 29.
Boss Jose Luis Mendilibar‘s aspect are at present third within the prime flight with 10 factors from 5 league video games, though they did lose 2-1 final day out towards Aris on September 21.
Mendilibar's team have prevailed in two of their final three away video games this season and have received three, drawn one and misplaced two of their final six matches on the street.
Olympiacos' type within the Europa League is poor, with the aspect having misplaced 3 times, drawn on 5 events and received simply as soon as of their 9 most up-to-date video games.
Lyon type (all competitions):
Olympiacos type (all competitions):
Team News
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Lyon come into the conflict with no harm considerations, and supervisor Sage ought to have the ability to select an XI from a wholesome squad.
During their loss towards Marseille, Les Gones had been arrange in a 3-5-2 formation, with Duje Caleta-Car working as his team's center centre-again, and he may accomplish that once more on Thursday.
Former Chelsea and Manchester United participant Nemanja Matic may defend the defence from the bottom of midfield, and he could also be joined within the centre of the pitch by Corentin Tolisso and Maxence Caqueret.
Up entrance, Gift Orban and Alexandre Lacazette are prone to begin collectively given they've executed so in Lyon's previous two video games.
As for the guests, they are going to be with out attacker Giorgos Masouras for an additional few weeks, whereas centre-again Panagiotis Retsos has picked up a muscle harm, however the timeframe on his return will not be but recognized.
Olympiacos boss Mendilibar opted to make use of a 4-2-3-1 construction in his aspect's final outing, and he may accomplish that once more on Thursday with Ayoub El Kaabi main the road.
Santiago Hezze is for certain to function within the double pivot, and he might be partnered by Dani Garcia, who performed alongside him in his team's 2-1 defeat towards Aris.
In defence, centre-backs David Carmo and Andreas Ndoj might be trusted to guard goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis.
Lyon doable starting lineup:
Perri; Mata, Caleta-Car, Tagliafico; Maitland-Niles, Caqueret, Matic, Tolisso, Vinicius; Orban, Lacazette
Olympiacos doable starting lineup:
Tzolakis; Rodinei, Ndoj, Carmo, Ortega; Hezze, Garcia; Martins, Chiquinho, Velde; El Kaabi
We say: Lyon 1-1 Olympiacos
Lyon might be trying to bounce again from their defeat final day out and will start the match intensely, so they might rating the sport's opening aim.
However, it's troublesome to disregard their poor type this this season, and it might not be stunning if Olympiacos managed to seek out an equaliser.
For information evaluation of the almost definitely outcomes, scorelines and extra for this match please click on right here.
