Lyon vs West Ham United Preview – Prediction, team news, line-ups | OneFootball

West Ham United’s quest to win their first major European trophy this century remains on track as they head to France to meet Lyon after a 1-1 draw in England.

Both sides have reached the Europa League quarter-finals at the expense of forme competition winners, with Lyon knocking out Porto and West Ham overcoming record-time champions Sevilla.

An enthralling first leg in London saw a 10-man David Moyes’ team take a second-half lead through Jarrod Bowen before Tottenham Hotspur loanee Tanguy Ndombele restored parity.

All is to play for in this handsomely-looking quarter-final tie between the sides that finished top of their Europa League groups in the autumn.

Both teams will be keen to go the distance in Europe’s second-tier competition.

Indeed, it could be the only way for each side to secure Champions League football for next season, given their current positions in domestic championships.

After suffering a 2-0 defeat away to Brentford at the weekend, West Ham have lost further ground on fourth-placed Tottenham in the Premier League, while Lyon lag ten points behind third-placed Rennes in the Ligue 1 table.

Match Preview

Lyon

Lyon’s overall record against Premier League clubs in European football is almost perfectly balanced (W7, D9, L6), while there’s nothing to separate them in knock-out ties (W3, L3).

Yet, after holding West Ham to a first-leg draw at the London Stadium, Les Gones have taken their unbeaten streak against English opponents to seven matches (W4, D3).

Peter Bosz’s men should feel confident enough to maintain that record, especially after losing just one of their ten previous home meetings with English visitors (W2, D7).

West Ham United

West Ham’s failed attempt to beat Lyon in the first leg at home could be a bad omen, as the Hammers have ended up exiting European competition in all three previous instances when going winless in the home first leg.

Scoring at the Groupama Stadium would see the London outfit make the club history, having failed to find the net in all three previous European knock-out legs on hostile turf (L3).

West Ham’s run of five consecutive defeats away from home cannot encourage Moyes’ bid to lead West Ham to a historic European success, especially given his men have drawn a blank in three of their last four on the road.

Team News

According to the Evening Standard, Lyon are praying for star players Antony Lopes, Houssem Aouar and Ndombele to regain full fitness ahead of Thursday’s rematch.

On the other hand, West Ham will be without injured Angelo Ogbonna and suspended Aaron Cresswell, while Kurt Zouma’s availability remains up in the air.

Lyon Potential Starting XI

(4-2-3-1): Julian Pollersbeck; Malo Gusto, Jerome Boateng, Castello Lukeba, Emerson; Jeff-Reine Adelaide, Romain Faivre; Tete, Lucas Paqueta, Romain Faivre; Moussa Dembele.

West Ham United Potential Starting XI

(4-2-3-1): Alphonse Areola; Arthur Masuaku, Issa Diop, Ben Johnson, Vladimir Coufal; Tomas Soucek, Declan Rice; Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals, Jarrod Bowen; Michail Antonio.

Lyon vs West Ham United Prediction

Whether it was a consequence of Cresswell’s expulsion or Lyon’s determination, West Ham looked on the back foot for most of their first-leg encounter in London.

Bosz’s men dominated possession and allowed the Hammers only a few sights of goal, and another similar display could fire them into the semi-finals.

Based on the first-leg developments and West Ham’s dreadful away form, it is hard to make a case for Lyon not to grab a victory here.

Lyon 2-1 West Ham United