West Ham Vs Lyon
West Ham Vs Lyon Thursday 7 April, 2022 – 20:00 (BST)
UEFA Europa League
Pick: Lyon or Draw
Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker: WilliamHill
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 5 April 2022)
Preview: The enticing prospect of facing Barcelona in the last four will serve as added motivation for these teams ahead of their Europa League quarter-final first-leg at the London Stadium. West Ham are on a four-match winning streak on home soil, however Lyon are a perfect five wins out of five away from home in Europe this season.
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Table of Contents
West Ham – Any first-leg win likely to be to nil?
For West Ham, who until this season hadn’t featured in the group stage of any UEFA competition, the prospect of meeting European royalty in the semi-finals is a huge incentive. Having ousted serial Europa League winners Sevilla in the last round, though, the team from East London will be confident of seeing off the challenge of Ligue 1’s ninth best team – based on current standings – to set up a tie with Barcelona.
The Hammers easily topped their group, winning four of six matches, before producing a stirring comeback to knock out six-time winners Sevilla 2-1 on aggregate. Although extra-time was needed, that win at the London Stadium means all five victories in this season’s competition were accompanied by a clean sheet. Something they have managed only once across their past seven competitive games (W3 L4).
Key Stat: West Ham haven’t lost in six successive fixtures at the London Stadium (W5 D1), winning the last four in a row. This includes their impressive 2-0 win (1-0 at the end of 90 minutes) over Sevilla in the previous round that saw them overturn a 1-0 aggregate deficit.
Lyon – Ligue 1 side targeting seventh successive UEL away victory?
Les Gones didn’t feature in Europe last season owing to poor domestic performance in 2019/20, but have made up for lost time this season. Having collected the highest points total (16 – W5 D1) in this season’s group stage, the team coached by Peter Bosz subsequently dispatched FC Porto in the Round 32. A 3-2 home win backed up their 1-0 victory in Portugal, earning them a new competition record in the process.
That win in Lisbon, courtesy of Lucas Paqueta’s solitary strike, represented a sixth consecutive away win in the Europa League for Lyon, currently six points off a European spot in France’s Ligue 1. It marks them out as a big threat ahead of this first-leg. Not that the English capital has treated them well previously, failing to win on all three prior visits to London, losing twice to Tottenham and drawing with Arsenal.
Key Stat: Lyon have scored 10 times in four Europa League away matches this term, notching eight of these in the second-half. Unsurprisingly, they have won the second half in all four European away games this season.
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West Ham Vs Lyon Betting Advice
A semi-final against Barcelona is a tantalising prospect for both teams but particularly West Ham. The Premier League side, currently sixth domestically, didn’t make their group stage debuts in UEFA competition until this season and so an opportunity to grace the same pitch as the Spanish giants is one they won’t want to pass up. This won’t be easy, though, facing a team enjoying an outstanding European campaign.
West Ham Vs Lyon – Key Facts:
- Predicting the winner of this first-leg isn’t easy. West Ham boast a perfect home record in this season’s Europa League, mirroring that of Lyon away from home.
- West Ham were ahead at half-time in three of four Europa League home matches this term. However, Lyon won the second half in all four of their away contests.
- The Hammers are also heavily reliant on keeping things tight defensively, banking a clean sheet in all five Europa League victories this season. However, they are on a run of one clean sheet in seven games (W3 L4).
Lyon are toiling in Ligue 1. Peter Bosz’s men have been a force to be reckoned with in this tournament, however, winning all but one of eight matches including all four played away from home. The exception a 1-1 home draw with Rangers in their final group game when already confirmed as group winners. As such I think our French guests, seeking their seventh away win on the spin in the Europa League, are underrated.
Best Betting Odds – West Ham Vs Lyon
West Ham – 21/20 (BetVictor)
Draw – 12/5 (Coral)
Lyon – 13/5 (WilliamHill)
