FCSB vs Lyon Prediction: Les Gones may hold the aces

The Europa League has reached the last-16 stage and there is an intriguing two-legged tie set to take place between FCSB and Lyon, who have lost only one of their eight games in Uefa's secondary competition.

Read on for my FCSB vs Lyon prediction, as well as the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

While Lyon finished sixth in the league phase to qualify for this stage automatically, FCSB were forced to come through the knockout play-off round as they defeated Greek side PAOK 4-1 on aggregate.

The hostile atmosphere at the Arena National in Bucharest will have Romanian hosts FCSB confident of claiming the first-leg initiative on Thursday, but Lyon possess bundles of quality and have more experience of such high-pressure situations in their side.

Team News

FCSB are having to cope with a lengthy absentee list which includes Alexandru Pantea, Octavian Popescu, Darius Olaru, William Baeten and Mihai Lixandru.

Daniel Birligea is also expected to miss the first leg while the home side will also be without winter arrivals Ionut Cercel, Alexandru Stoian and Jordan Gele, who were not added to their knockout squad.

Lyon are without Brazilian defender Abner Vinicius, who is missing through injury, but Nicolas Tagliafico is available after suspension.

Nemanja Matic and winger Ernest Nuamah are expected to return to the visitors’ starting line-up after being rested during Sunday’s 2-1 win at home to Brest.

FCSB vs Lyon Odds

Lyon are unbeaten in five Europa League matches and are 5/6 to claim a first-leg lead in Bucharest, where hosts FCSB are 100/30 to make the most of their familiar surroundings.

These have met on four occasions but not since 2008, with Lyon winning three of those rivalries and the other ending in a draw, which is available at 11/4.

Both teams have scored in five of Lyon’s last seven Europa League assignments and it is 8/11 for the net to bulge at both ends in the Romanian capital.

Lyon to win & over 2.5 goals @ 15/8

Lyon’s only defeat in eight Europa League matches this season came in a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Besiktas and their two most convincing performances have come on the road courtesy of 4-1 wins at Rangers and Qarabag.

Off-field issues don’t seem to be impacting them too much and their only two losses in their last 10 matches in all competitions have come in 3-2 reverses against Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain, who are the top two in Ligue 1.

FCSB did well to qualify but a 4-0 defeat away at Rangers and a 2-0 reverse at home to Manchester United suggests that they may have their work cut out against opposition of this calibre.

Lyon’s last five games have all produced at least three goals and, with both teams having scored in five of their last seven Europa League assignments, they are taken to win a lively first-leg encounter.

Malick Fofana anytime goalscorer @ 11/4

Former Arsenal ace Alexandre Lacazette and Georgian international Georges Mikautadze are Lyon’s two chief scoring threats but teenage talent Malick Fofana has created a strong impression this season and may have been underrated in the goalscorer markets.

Tricky winger Fofana looks set for a very bright future and his best performances this season have come in the Europa League, where he has four goals in just seven appearances.

The Belgian international scored on trips to Rangers and Qarabag and may be able to enhance his growing reputation with another strike in Bucharest.

Offers

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