Verdict: Thomas Muller to score anytime & Bayern to score over 2.5 goals
Best Odds: 9/5
Bookmaker: Unibet
In a contest between two sides who put in stunning displays over the weekend, Lyon and Bayern Munich will meet out in Portugal on Wednesday night with a spot in the final of this year’s Champions League up for grabs.
Lyon
Starting with Lyon, sat down in seventh spot and almost in Ligue 1 limbo after seeing their domestic campaign brought to an early halt, few across Europe would have expected Les Gones’ stunning Champions League run this year. Collecting the scalp of newly-crowned Italian champions Juventus thanks to away goals earlier in the month, a result that cost Maurizio Sarri his job in Turin, the Whites really saved their best for Saturday night. Despite many expecting them to be blown away by bookies’ favourite Manchester City over the weekend, Rudi Garcia’s side landed a stunning 3-1 win out in Lisbon and have now managed to collect back-to-back heavyweight scalps. With the former Marseille boss becoming the first French manager to guide a French team to the Champions League semi-finals since the 2009-10 campaign, Lyon will simply be looking for another Portuguese miracle on Wednesday night. Despite once again taking the underdog status in midweek, the French outfit do have some real attacking options that will be looking to cause another upset. Watching Moussa Dembele bag a brace against City over the weekend and extending his overall tally to 18 goals this season, it should also be noted that Memphis Depay has six strikes in his last seven Champions League appearances.
Team News
In line for a spot in Rudi Garcia’s starting XI after his brace on Saturday night, Moussa Dembele will likely replace Karl Toko Ekambi up top.
Aside from the former Celtic striker coming in, Lyon are expected to go with the same team that shocked Manchester City over the weekend.
Bayern Munich
As for Bayern Munich, laying down what was the most lethal of markers on Friday night, they have cemented their spot as Europe’s top side this season. Putting in what will long be remembered as a famous display out in Portugal over the weekend, the German giants managed to land a stunning 8-2 romp against former champions Barcelona and the mood in their camp has only continued to skyrocket. Continuing to break records since returning from football’s enforced break and enjoying yet another domestic silverware sweep, the Bavarians have now won each of their last 19 matchups across all formats and are unbeaten since way back on December 7th. Also winning each of their previous nine Champions League appearances on the bounce, Hans-Dieter Flick’s men also blew away Chelsea thanks to a 7-1 aggregate hammering in the quarter-finals. With the red-hot Robert Lewandowski continuing on his famous campaign at the Allianz, it is no surprise that Bayern have a feared reputation for their performances in the final third. Remarkably, they have now managed to bag a stunning 24 European strikes in just their last five appearances. With many feeling this is the best Bayern side over the past decades, they should be looking to make another statement in midweek.
Team News
After returning to training earlier in the week, World Cup-winner Benjamin Pavard could be set to earn a place on Bayern’s bench on Wednesday night.
Elsewhere, despite getting his name on the scoresheet in their romp against Barca, Ivan Perisic could be replaced by Kingsley Coman in attack.
Key Factors to Consider
- Including a 3-0 win when the two sides last met back in 2010, Bayern Munich have won each of their last three meetings with Lyon.
- Robert Lewandowski has scored in eight consecutive Champions League appearances for Bayern – only Ruud Van Nistelrooy in 2003 (9) and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 (11) have scored in more successive matches in the competition’s history.
- Lyon’s duo of Memphis Depay and Moussa Dembele have scored nine Champions League strikes between them in this summer’s extended tournament.
- The German champions have scored 24 goals in just their last five Champions League appearances.
- Lyon have managed to record just a single clean sheet in their last nine Champions League contests on foreign soil.
Conclusion
While Lyon might have managed to shock the footballing world over the weekend, it is hard to see them pulling off another miracle out in Portugal on Wednesday night. With Bayern Munich writing their names into the history books with what was a famous 8-2 romp against Barcelona on Friday night, the German heavyweights have only gone from strength to strength and they’re rightfully seen as a landslide pick to lift the title later in the month. With the likes of Robert Lewandowski spearheading a Bayern side that have now managed to bag 24 goals in just their last five Champions League appearances, we’re backing what should be another action-packed semi-final in midweek.
Verdict: Thomas Muller to score anytime & Bayern to score over 2.5 goals
Best Odds: 9/5
Bookmaker: Unibet
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