Prediction: Lyon vs Everton

Verdict: Home win & both teams to score

Best Odds: 21/10

Bookmaker: bet365

Lyon made a giant step towards the next stage with a 2-1 triumph at Goodison Park and they now have a chance to all but secure their place in the knockout phase. Out-of-sorts Everton, on the other hand, will attempt to end a four-match losing run at Parc OL, but that looks easier said than done at this moment.

Lyon

Numerous changes to the playing squad and busy schedule in the opening exchanges were main reasons for some under-par performances in August and September, but latest run of results is enough to suggest les Gones have turned things around. Impressive Ligue 1 wins over Monaco, Troyes and Metz saw the team climb to third in the overall standings, and it seems that Lyon are ready to mount a serious challenge for Champions League positions. At the same time, les Gones will attempt to reach the final stages of the Europa League and maybe even challenge for the coveted trophy, and they appear to be on the right track. Lyon didn’t have the best of starts to the new EL campaign, sharing spoils with Apollon and Atalanta, but the 2-1 triumph over Everton at Goodison Park seriously improved their qualifying hopes. Considering that the Toffees are going through a very rough patch at the moment, Lyon stand a good chance of recording another win and virtually booking their ticket to the knockout stages. The hosts are brimming with confidence at the moment and that should not be underestimated.

Team News

Apart from Clement Grenier, head coach Bruno Genesio has no other selection worries ahead of the second game against Everton.

Everton

In spite of the heavy summer spending, Everton have been largely disappointed this season and nobody was surprised to see Ronald Koeman pay the price for poor results. While the club management are searching for the new boss, David Unsworth has been tasked with attempting to steady the ship, but he hasn’t so far managed to bring any kind of improvement. The barren run of results continued with League Cup defeat to Chelsea and Premier League loss to Leicester City, with the Toffees now in for yet another difficult match. Having failed to outplay Lyon at home, Everton will struggle to do that in the return leg, especially given the current form and extensive European experience of the opposition. It remains to be seen whether the caretake manager will field a weakened side ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash against Watford or name his strongest XI in an attempt to finally put an end to the dismal run of results, but, either way, we can see the Toffees having plenty of problems at Parc OL.

Team News

There have been no fresh injury worries for David Unsworth, but Ross Barkley, Ramiro Funes Mori, Michael Keane, Yannick Bolasie and Seamus Coleman are all unavailable.

Key Factors to Consider

• Lyon on a four-match winning run
• Everton lost last four fixtures on all fronts
• Lyon won four of last five home games in Europa League (D1)
• Everton lost five of last six away matches in all competitions
• Les Gones won the reverse fixture 2-1

Conclusion

The two sides enter the game in contrasting fortunes and it goes without saying that Lyon are the favourites to claim maximum points. Everton are all over the place at the moment, and we don’t think they can do more apart from scoring a consolation goal in France.

Verdict: Home win & both teams to score

Best Odds: 21/10

Bookmaker: bet365