Already with a six-point gap over upcoming opponents Hoffenheim in the UEFA Europa League (UEL), Lyon will be looking to maintain their 100% winning start to this season’s league phase when they travel to Germany this week.
Match News and Current Form
Following losses at OFI Crete and at home to Beşiktaş, Hoffenheim need to avoid another defeat this Thursday or they will lose three successive main-draw games in European competition for the very first time. Last week’s result also means that the Kraichgauers have not won any of their last four matches in Europe as hosts (D2, L2) and have earned just one victory in their last eight UEL games (D2, L5). It is not all negative news for Christian Ilzer’s side though as they beat bottom-of-the-Bundesliga Borussia Mönchengladbach 2-1 on Sunday to end a run of four straight defeats across all competitions.
Leading Ligue 1 and with a top-of-the-table clash to come on Sunday against Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon will be looking to make it just one defeat from their last nine competitive games (W5, D2) in this fixture. Few would bet against them doing so, as OL have lost only two of their last 19 UEL away matches (W13, D4) and have won their last six league-phase games in this competition. That latter run includes victories by a single-goal margin in both such encounters so far this season, and Les Gones will be defending an impressive record in Germany, where they have lost just two of their last ten European away matches (W5, D3).
Head-to-Head History
After seven goals each and three draws, this will be the fourth H2H between Hoffenheim and Lyon.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Seven of Hoffenheim’s last eight matches saw both teams score.
Hoffenheim have lost their last two European home games 3-2 and by the same scoreline in three of their last four competitive home matches.
Seven of Lyon’s last nine games saw both teams score.
Lyon received the first booking in four of their last five away matches.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Fisnik Asllani has contributed to a second-half goal in both of Hoffenheim’s last two home games (G1, A1), while no player has created more chances from open play in this season’s UEL main draw ahead of this matchday than Lyon’s Keito Nakamura (seven), with the Japan international getting two assists in last week’s 3-2 win over Crystal Palace.
Neither side seem to have any new availability issues.
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Betting Analysis
With both sides in the habit of scoring and conceding in the same game, backing both teams to score and an away win looks like a strong option here.
Author: Tom Penn