Ajax v Lyon Betting Preview – UEFA Europa League 3rd May 7.45pm
This is a good looking tie in the UEFA Europa League semi-final because Ajax are carrying a long unbeaten streak of form on home soil in Europe at the moment and they will have to make the most of the home advantage in this first leg. Lyon are a powerful, attack-minded side and have produced plenty of goals this season and they have scored in all but one of their away games in the competition this season. They will pose the Dutch outfit a problem or two out in Amsterdam.
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Ajax v Lyon Betting Tips
Ajax have been a very good home side in Europe across the course of the season and actually bound. They have gone unbeaten in their last twelve games on home soil in Europe now with a fantastic W7 D5 record in hat sequence in Amsterdam. They are on a six-match winning streak at home in Europe at the moment too. Ajax are the only club left in the semi final who have won this trophy before (back in 1992). Ajax also holds a head to head lead from previous meetings with Lyon, having gone W2 D2 against Lyon. The most recent meeting between the two clubs was in the 2011/12 Champions League group stage with two 0-0 draws played out. For this first leg, a 1-1 draw is a shortest priced option at 5/1 in the bet365 correct score market. This will be interesting because Ajax have conceded in one of their last six only at home in Europe, but Lyon are a powerful scoring side. Ajax’s overall record in 22 matches against French sides is W10 D5 L7 (W6 D3 L2 in Amsterdam – W4 D2 L5 in France). Both teams to score at Bet365 is a price of 8/15. In the anytime goalscorer market, Bertrand Traore and Davy Klaassen are 7/4 options for them.
Alexandre Lacazette is the Bet365 anytime goalscorer market 11/10 favourite and his stock just keeps rising and rising all of the time. He’s been in fantastic scoring form as well and they will need him at his sharpest. Lyon’s record in 12 encounters with Dutch clubs is W6 D4 L2 (W3 D2 L1 at home – W3 D2 L1 in the Netherlands). Lyon are the classiest looking side left in the competition in terms of style and attacking power, but they have landed just the three wins in their last nine games in all competitions (D1 L5) so have been running out of steam a bit. Not only that, they have taken only three wins in their last eleven games out on the road in all competitions as well. They totally destroyed Dutch opposition in the form of AZ Alkmaar in the round of 32, winning 11-2 on aggregate though. Out on the road in Europe this season they have produced a W2 D1 L3 record and have scored in all but one of those away games. Over 2.5 goals in the match at Bet365 is a price of 13/20. The last time that Lyon were in the semi-final of a UEFA tournament was back in the 2009/10 Champions League final four where they were knocked out by Bayern Munich. Ajax’s last semi-final saw them exit the 1996/97 Champions League against Juventus.
Ajax v Lyon Betting Odds
Ajax 13/10, Draw 12/5, Lyon 2/1
Ajax v Lyon Predictions
Draw: Ajax are a good side at home but they are going to have their hands very full with the threat that Lyon carries going forward. The French side would probably be happy enough with getting a goal and avoiding defeat because they will be red-hot favourites back on home soil to deliver. Draw.
