Lyon host Villarreal in the first leg of their Europa League Round of 32 tie in France next week, with both teams having qualified for this stage of the competition thanks to earning 11 points from their respective groups. The duo are among the most recognisable teams left in the tournament, meaning that many are expecting a close encounter at the Groupama Stadium.
Europa League – Lyon v Villarreal, Groupama Stadium, Lyon – Thursday 15th February – 20:05 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 5/2 at Unibet |
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Lyon
VillarealMatch Preview
Lyon and Villarreal go head-to-head in France next week, with both sides looking to record a positive result ahead of the reverse fixture in Spain. Little separates the duo ahead of kick-off, with managers Bruno Génésio and Javier Calleja both looking to gain a tactical advantage for their team. For those still unsure of who to back with the bookmakers ahead of kick-off, be sure to check out our top betting tip below. However, let’s first take a closer look at the two teams, starting with the home side.
Lyon Team News & Form
Lyon were beaten by rivals Monaco in Ligue 1 in their last outing, however their performances so far this season have been a significant improvement since last season. Manager Genesio has led his side to fourth in Ligue 1, scoring a massive 54 goals from their 24 matches to date. Lyon qualified for this stage of the competition thanks to impressive results in a group containing both Atalanta and Everton, with the likes of Memphis Depay, Mariano and Captain Nabil Fekir set to provide a significant threat to the Villarreal defence next week.
Villarreal Team News & Form
Villarreal lost away at Real Betis in La Liga last time around, leaving them fifth in the table. However, the Spanish side lost just once in their Europa League group in order to easily qualify for the knockout phase, with striker Cédric Bakambu having scored three goals from their six matches. However, the Congo international has since left the club, leaving a void in attack for the visitors. As a result, the emphasis will be on the likes of Carlos Bacca and Roger Martinez to deliver in front of goal.
Head to Head
The two teams are yet to meet in a competitive fixture, however the duo did meet in the Emirates Cup back in 2015, when Villarreal came out comfortable 2-0 winners over their French opponents in a pre-season encounter. However, little can be concluded from such a tie due to its friendly nature.
Lyon v Villarreal – Betting Odds and Predictions
Given their status as the home team next week, it comes as little surprise that it is Lyon who are the favourites for victory with the majority of online bookmakers. The hosts can be backed at best odds of 23/20 with William Hill, while those looking to back an away success for Villarreal can take advantage of odds of 5/2 with Skybet.
Top Betting Tip Lyon v Villarreal
Our top betting tip for the match is to bet on both teams scoring during the 90 minutes in France, which is available at odds of 4/6 with PaddyPower.