Lyon vs Basel: Preview, Predictions, Team News, Lineups
Thursday’s Europa League match sees Olympique Lyonnais host FC Basel at Groupama Stadium. This encounter marks the first meeting between the two clubs. Lyon currently sits in fifth place, aiming to maintain a top-eight position with a victory. They achieved a 2-0 win over Red Bull Salzburg in their last match, continuing their perfect start to the group stage with two wins. In contrast, Basel is three points behind after defeating Stuttgart 2-0 in their last outing.
Match Preview: Lyon vs Basel
Lyon is enjoying a successful campaign both in domestic competitions and the Europa League. The team has a solid defensive organization, not having conceded a goal in the current tournament. They aim for a third consecutive win in the group stage, a feat they last accomplished in the 2021-22 season when they finished unbeaten in the group phase.
However, Lyon faces challenges ahead of this fixture. They recently suffered two narrow losses in domestic matches, including a 3-2 defeat to Nice. This loss puts pressure on them, as they risk losing consecutive matches at Groupama Stadium for the first time this season. Previously, they were defeated 2-1 by Toulouse in Ligue 1.
Historical Context
This match represents only the third matchup between Lyon and Swiss clubs in European competition. Lyon previously recorded two 1-0 victories against Grasshoppers during the 2013 Champions League qualification round.
Basel’s Europa League Journey
FC Basel’s recent performance has shown improvement. They began their Europa League group stage with a strong matchday two, scoring early and sealing the game well before the 90-minute mark. A victory on Thursday would secure their first away win in European competitions since the 2023 Europa Conference League semi-finals against Fiorentina.
Currently, Basel has won three consecutive matches in all competitions, demonstrating excellent form by outscoring opponents 8-0 during this streak. However, they have struggled in their last two away matches in the Europa League, failing to score.
Team News
Lyon will be missing Orel Mangala and Ernest Nuamah due to cruciate ligament injuries. Additionally, Remy Descamps is sidelined with a wrist issue. Players Martin Satriano and Ruben Kluivert were key contributors in the previous win against Salzburg, while Dominik Greif has maintained a clean sheet throughout the tournament.
On the other hand, Basel may have to cope without Finn van Breemen and Keigo Tsunemoto, both dealing with fitness concerns. Albian Ajeti and Xherdan Shaqiri played pivotal roles in the win against Stuttgart, with goalkeeper Marwin Hitz making eight saves to secure a clean sheet.
Predicted Lineups
| Lyon Starting XI | Basel Starting XI |
|---|---|
| Greif | Hitz |
| Kluivert | Vouilloz |
| Mata | Daniluc |
| Niakhate | Adjetey |
| Tagliafico | Schmid |
| De Carvalho | Koindredi |
| Morton | Leroy |
| Karabec | Soticek |
| Sulc | Shaqiri |
| Fofana | Otele |
| Satriano | Ajeti |
Match Prediction
In this highly anticipated fixture, Lyon is favored to secure a 2-0 victory over Basel. Despite recent setbacks, the strength of Lyon’s home record and organization suggests they will reclaim their confidence against a Basel side that may struggle defensively against high-caliber opponents.
