⚽Lyon vs Olympiacos
🆕UEFA Europa League, KO: 20:00 Sep 26, 2024, Groupama Stadium
✅Lyon go head-to-head against Olympiacos on Thursday. Read our Predictions and Betting Tips with Match Preview, Head-to-head stats (h2h) and Team Form Analysis.
Our prediction for this Europa League match:
Following a shocking loss to ten-man Olympique Marseille, Olympique Lyon will look to return to winning ways when they face Olympiacos Piraeus in their Europa League opener. Les Gones have been struggling in the new Ligue 1 campaign and that is probably the main reason why home win should not be considered. There are no fresh injury worries in the home team ahead of Thursday’s clash.
The Thrylos, on the other hand, aim to recover from a 2-1 loss to Aris. As Olympiacos will go for a win in the Europa League showdown as well, both teams to score betting option should be considered. You should bear in mind that both side have managed to find the net in three of their last four meetings in the Champions League. Summer signing Willian is widely expected to return to the starting XI after coming as a substitute against Aris.
How the bookies view it: Lyon have the edge
Lyon have the upper hand among the bookies and are priced at 9/10 by JILIMACAO to claim the win. A victory turn for Olympiacos is valued at 16/5 with 777PUB, who are also offering odds of 5/2 for a draw.
Head to head: Lyon on top
Lyon have a 3-1 advantage from four previous matches against Olympiakos. The last meeting between both sides was a Champions League clash in 2005 which ended 4-1 in favour of the French side.
Lyon vs Olympiacos Prediction
Lyon will mark the return to European football with the home fixture against the reigning UEFA Conference League champions Olympiacos on Thursday evening at Groupama Stadium.
The French outfit got off to a slow start to the new Ligue 1 campaign. They lost three of the opening five games of the season.
The negative streak includes a 2-3 home defeat to Marseille on Sunday evening. Head coach Pierre Sage has huge problems with the lack of defensive meticulousness in his team’s back line.
Lyon shipped eleven goals in the maiden five games of the new Ligue 1 campaign. This will be the music to the ears of Ayoub El Kaabi who almost single-handedly led Olympiacos to the Conference League glory last year.
The Moroccan striker is Olympiacos’ top scorer this season as well with three goals in five Super League 1 appearances this season.
Neither Lyon nor Olympiacos will enter this tie in high spirits. Both outfits have been struggling defensively at the beginning of the season.
Lyon have just allowed three goals in an unpleasant home defeat to Marseille. Olympiacos conceded twice in a disappointing road loss to Aris.
Both teams were on target in three of the previous four head-to-head affairs between these counterparts.
Lyon shipped two or more goals in all but one of their last six games across competitions, a run involving a defeat to Arsenal in the Emirates Cup tie in the pre-season.
Both Teams To Score has to be the way to go at the 1.90 odds while the value is huge with the 3.20 odds offered for El Kaabi to score anytime for the visitors.
Players to watch: Lacazette to find his range
It has been a difficult campaign for Alexandre Lacazette so far as he is struggling to find his best form. The striker remains a major attacking threat for Lyon and is priced at 9/5 by JILIPARK to finally get on the score sheet.
Ayoub El Kaabi was one of the standout players for Olympiacos last season and is already showing similar form this term. The striker has three goals this season and is priced at 5/2 by WJPESO to find the net on Thursday.
Probable line-up
Rayan Cherki could be handed a start on Thursday after coming off the bench to score last time out. Duje Caleta-Car should feature in defence while Lacazette is expected to continue in attack.
El Kaabi should lead the line once again for Olympiacos with Chiquinho providing support. Willian could also earn a place in attack as the Greeks may look to his experience while David Carmo should start at the back.
Lyon: Perri, Mata, Caleta-Car, Tagliafico, Maitland-Niles, Caqueret, Tolisso, Abner, Cherki, Orban, Lacazette
Olympiacos: Tzolakis, Rodinei, Ntoi, Carmo, Ortega, Hezze, Garcia, Martins, Chiquinho, Willian, El Kaabi
