Sports Mole previews Thursday’s Europa League clash between Lyon and FCSB, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
With one foot in the quarter-finals, Lyon will be looking to finish the job at Parc Olympique Lyonnais, where they host FCSB for the return leg of their round of 16 Europa League encounter.
Les Gones enter this contest with a two-goal cushion after securing a 3-1 victory in Romania last week.
Match preview
© Iconsport
The margin may suggest a comfortable passage, but Lyon did not secure their win in the most straightforward of manners, with a late quick-fire brace from Malik Fofana in the 86th and 89th minutes sealing a hard-fought triumph.
That marked their second successive victory across all competitions at the time, a run they extended with a 2-0 triumph over Nice in Ligue 1 at the weekend.
The result leaves Lyon sixth in the top-flight table on 44 points from 25 games, just two points adrift of fifth-placed Lille and fourth-placed Monaco, who occupy the Europa League and Champions League qualifying spots, respectively.
With a clear path ahead, OL know that progressing past Steaua would bring them a step closer to a double incentive of securing their first-ever UEL title and a direct route to Europe’s elite club competition next season, meaning they will step into Thursday’s clash in high spirits.
Making their two-goal advantage count should not be an arduous task, as history favours Paulo Fonseca‘s side, with last week’s win in Romania extending their unbeaten run against Steaua in major European encounters to five matches, comprising four wins and one draw, with only Sparta Prague facing them more times without inflicting a defeat.
Lyon have lost only two of their last 17 home games in Europe, one of which came in this season’s league phase against Besiktas in a 1-0 loss on October 24 last year.
Since then, their only setback at Parc Olympique Lyonnais has been a 3-2 defeat to Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain, which remains their sole blemish in their last 10 home outings across all competitions, the most recent of which saw them claim a 2-1 victory over Brest.
© Imago
Before last week’s first-leg loss, Steaua had enjoyed an eight-game unbeaten run across all competitions, registering five wins and three draws, including home and away triumphs over PAOK in the knockout playoff rounds – a streak that provided the momentum for a strong start to this tie.
However, Alexandru Baluta‘s 68th-minute equaliser in Romania proved short-lived, as Fofana’s late heroics dashed their hopes and left the Red and Blues with a mountain to climb in their bid to reach their first-ever quarter-finals in the competition.
Their record in France only adds to the challenge, as Steaua have never won a major European away match in the country, managing just one draw, with this being their first visit since a 2-0 loss to Lyon in the Champions League in November 2008.
However, there is some cause for optimism, as the visitors have improved their away form in Europe, claiming victories in their last two outings — a 3-2 win at Qarabag in the league phase and a 2-1 success at PAOK in the playoffs — meaning they could secure three straight continental away wins for the first time ever.
FCSB enter Thursday’s encounter on the back of a 1-0 victory Universitatea Craiova last weekend, a result which saw them maintain their two points cushion at the summit of the SuperLiga table.
Lyon Europa League form:
Lyon form (all competitions):
FCSB Europa League form:
FCSB form (all competitions):
Team News
© IconSport
Manager Fonseca, who is currently serving a nine-month domestic touchline ban, will be free to lead his team from the dugout on Thursday.
The Portuguese coach will have the luxury of a fully fit squad, and with no injury concerns, he may opt to stick with the same XI that secured the 3-1 win in Romania.
Rayan Cherki has been outstanding in the Europa League this season, registering six assists — more than any other player in the competition — and he will be eager to continue his fine form when deployed on the flank.
Steaua, on the other hand, have been plagued by injuries, with Darius Olaru, Mihai Lixandru, Octavian Popescu, Alexandru Pantea, William Baeten and Daniel Bîrligea all ruled out for this encounter.
Bîrligea’s absence could see Florin Tanase step in to lead the attack once again, as he did in the first leg.
On a positive note, Valentin Cretu returns from suspension and is expected to reclaim his spot at right-back, which should see Mihai Popescu shift to centre-back, while Joyskim Dawa may drop out of the starting XI.
Lyon possible starting lineup:
Perri; Tagliafico, Niakhate, Mata, Maitland-Niles; Matic, Tessmann; Nuamah, Tolisso, Cherki, Mikautadze
FCSB possible starting lineup:
Tarnovanu; Radunovic, Popescu, Ngezana, Cretu; Sut, Alhassan; Cisotti, Edjouma, Miculesc; Tanase
We say: Lyon 2-0 FCSB (Lyon to win 5-1 on aggregate)
Given their formidable home form and historical dominance in this fixture, Lyon are well-placed to claim another victory on Thursday, sealing their progress with wins in both legs.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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